Cities with the most expensive homes in California
Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, plays a huge role for buyers.
The typical home value in the United States was $359,078 in December, 0.1% higher than the year before.
High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of January 15, the sits at 6.06%.
Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.
compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in California using data from . Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of December 2025. The charts in this story were created automatically using .
Metros with the most cities in the top 30 in California
#1. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA: 11
#2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 7
#2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 7
#4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: 2
#4. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: 2
#6. Salinas, CA: 1
