This article identifies the 10 California counties with the lowest median sale prices using county-level Redfin data.
California is still one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation overall, but prices vary widely from one county to the next. County median prices can help you narrow your search, though they do not represent every city or neighborhood within a county.
Recent county-level housing data shows just how wide the pricing range can be across California.
At the lower end of that spectrum, Lassen County, California, had a median sale price of $214,283 in August 2026, according to Redfin. At the upper end, San Mateo County, California, had a median sale price of $1,688,848 for the same period.
We reviewed county-level housing data to identify the 10 California counties with the lowest home prices in the state. Specifically, this analysis uses Redfin median sale prices for August 2026, updated on September 3, 2026.
Out of the state’s 58 counties, the following had the lowest home prices in California in 2026:
Most of these counties are located either in the Central Valley or the “Far North” regions of the state. The one exception is Imperial County, which is located in Southern California.
Notably, you won’t see any Bay Area counties on the list. Home prices in the San Francisco Bay Area remain high relative to many other California markets.
Looking at the cheapest county within each major region can help buyers who want lower prices without giving up on a preferred part of the state entirely. Even if the statewide-cheapest counties are too remote, this comparison can show you the lower-cost option within a region you still want to consider.
Here are the counties with the lowest home prices in each region based on Redfin median sale prices for August 2026, updated on September 3, 2026:
This regional view matters because “affordable” in California is highly relative. A buyer priced out of much of the Bay Area, for example, might still find Solano County worth a closer look, even though it is far more expensive than Lassen County. The same idea applies to regions like the Central Coast, where the lowest-priced county can still carry a much higher median than inland markets.
In other words, the statewide ranking helps identify the absolute lowest-price counties, while the regional comparison helps buyers find the lower-priced entry point within the part of California they actually want to live in.
County median sale prices are a useful starting point, but they work best as a screening tool rather than a final affordability test. A lower county median might point you toward a region worth exploring, but it does not mean every city, neighborhood, or home in that county will fit your budget.
Before you rule a county in or out, compare the specific areas where you would realistically live, the type of inventory available in your price range, and the monthly payment that fits your budget. A county can look affordable on paper but still be a poor fit if the homes you want are concentrated in higher-priced pockets or if taxes, insurance, commute patterns, or limited inventory push the purchase beyond your comfort zone.
California has some of the highest home values in the country.
As of August 31, 2026, Zillow reported a typical home value of $764,158 statewide in California.
So, what are the reasons for expensive California real estate prices?
California has a limited amount of land available for development, especially in highly desirable areas like coastal cities. Scarcity of land increases demand for available properties, leading to higher prices. Meanwhile, the state’s population has increased steadily over the past 10 years, increasing demand for housing.
Many parts of California have stringent land-use regulations and zoning laws. This makes it harder to build new housing developments, even when there’s a serious need for them. These regulations are designed to protect the environment and preserve open spaces. But they can also limit housing supply, exacerbating the affordability crisis.
Construction costs in California are among the highest in the nation due to factors such as stricter building codes, high labor costs, and expensive land. These costs are passed on to home buyers, contributing to the overall high cost of real estate.
Many California cities have relatively strict building codes. This can increase both the cost of construction and the time it takes to build new residential properties. While these codes help ensure safety and sustainability, they can also deter developers from building new units.
California’s geography, including its mountain ranges, coastlines, and natural reserves, limits the amount of available land for development. This further intensifies competition for housing in desirable areas, driving prices higher.
Many California communities have strong NIMBY sentiments. Some residents resist new developments due to concerns about traffic, density, or character of the neighborhood. This makes it difficult and slow to build new housing in some areas.
If you use this county list to identify lower-priced markets, the next step is to determine whether the homes you are considering actually fit your monthly budget and loan qualification profile.
One way buyers do that is by comparing loan terms. For example, many home buyers in California choose mortgage loans with a longer repayment term to reduce the size of their monthly payments. A 30-year mortgage loan will have a lower monthly payment than a 15-year loan, though you’ll pay more interest overall.
Low-down-payment financing can also make a lower-priced county more realistic. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) home loan program allows borrowers to make a down payment of just 3.5%. Some conventional loans only require 3% down, if borrowers pay for mortgage insurance.
California military members and veterans can often qualify for a VA loan, which eliminates the need for a down payment altogether.
Down payment assistance programs can also reduce some of the obstacles associated with a home purchase. These programs help first-time buyers cover their down payments and closing costs. Some are offered at the state level, while others are offered locally.
Lastly, try to expand your search zone as much as possible when house hunting. We talked about the broad spectrum of home prices across the state of California. But even within individual metro areas, prices can vary widely from one city or community to the next.
Looking for California counties with the lowest home prices is a smart first step. But the best opportunity is usually the county, city, and loan structure that combine to give you a home payment you can comfortably afford.
Sammamish Mortgage can help. We serve clients across Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and California. Since 1992, we’ve been providing several mortgage programs and products with flexible qualification criteria to borrowers across the Pacific Northwest. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote or to use our online mortgage calculator. Or, reach out to us if you are ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
Based on Redfin county-level median sale prices for August 2026, the lowest-priced counties in California were Lassen, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lake, Tehama, Imperial, Shasta, Kings, Tulare, and Glenn.
Lassen County had the lowest median sale price in California at $214,283 in August 2026, according to Redfin.
The 10 counties with the lowest median sale prices in August 2026 were Lassen, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lake, Tehama, Imperial, Shasta, Kings, Tulare, and Glenn, based on Redfin data.
For home prices specifically, the Far North region had the state’s lowest-priced county. Lassen County was the cheapest county in that region and statewide, with a median sale price of $214,283 in August 2026.
If you are comparing counties by median sale price, Lassen County was the cheapest place in California in August 2026. Buyers looking beyond the absolute lowest price may also compare lower-cost options by region, such as Glenn County in the Central Valley, Solano County in the Bay Area, and Imperial County in Southern California.
Yes. Most of the lowest-priced counties were located in the Central Valley or the Far North, which are generally more rural or inland than coastal and Bay Area markets. Imperial County was the main Southern California exception on the list.
They may find lower-priced entry points within a broader region, but prices can still be much higher near major job centers than in the state’s cheapest counties. For example, Solano County was the lowest-priced county in the San Francisco Bay Area at $562,866, which was far above Lassen County’s median.
A county median sale price is a useful screening tool that shows the midpoint of recent home sales in that county. It can help buyers compare markets, but it does not mean every city, neighborhood, or home in the county will fit the same budget.
Buyers should compare the specific areas where they would realistically live, the inventory available in their price range, and the monthly payment they can comfortably afford. Taxes, insurance, commute patterns, and limited inventory can all affect whether a county is truly affordable.
Several financing options may help. A 30-year mortgage can reduce the monthly payment compared with a 15-year loan. FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5%, some conventional loans require as little as 3% down with mortgage insurance, and eligible military members and veterans may qualify for VA loans with no down payment. Down payment assistance programs can also help cover upfront costs.
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