$234,903/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $796,761 home in Santa Rosa, CA at today's 6.47% rate — about $5,481/mo. The local median household ($102,840) falls $132,063 short.
The math (shown)
796,761 price − 10% down (79,676) = 717,085 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.47% on 717,085 = 4,518/mo principal+interest
+ 963/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
5,481/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 19,575/mo → 234,903/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-05 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.47% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-06-18). Local median income: $102,840 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Santa Rosa, CA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Santa Rosa, CA?
To buy the typical home, about $234,903/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro (2026-05): $796,761.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.47% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-06-18).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.