F

Browns Valley, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 28/100

Population: 2,339 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Browns Valley, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,339 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (28/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $56,750, median home value of $579,800, median rent of per month, and 25.6% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,550 per month (studio $1,166, 1BR $1,272, 3BR $2,156, 4BR $2,600). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $18,987 per year, consuming 33% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 4.9% and poverty 8.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$56,750
Median household income
Education D
25.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
10.2x
Home value $579,800 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,550/mo
2BR fair market rent (33% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$18,987/yr
Center-based infant care (33% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$56,750
▼ 8% vs national
Per Capita Income
$64,456
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Poverty Rate
8.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$579,800
▲ 111% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
100.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,550/mo
▲ 29% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,166
1BR
$1,272
2BR
$1,550
3BR
$2,156
4BR
$2,600

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
25.6%
▼ 4 ppt vs national
High School+
52.9%
Median Age
64.1
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$18,987/yr
33% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,400/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,263/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,816/yr

What This Means

Browns Valley, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (28/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,339. Challenges include housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Browns Valley, CA affordable?
Browns Valley, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (28/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $56,750. Median home value is $579,800.
What is the cost of living in Browns Valley?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $1,550/mo. Infant childcare $18,987/yr. Median home value $579,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →