F

Dos Palos, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 18/100

Population: 9,591 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Dos Palos, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 9,591 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (18/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $45,456, median home value of $323,400, median rent of $1,027 per month, and 11.1% 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 $1,503 per month (studio $1,116, 1BR $1,213, 3BR $2,067, 4BR $2,503). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,716 per year, consuming 28% 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 income, education, housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 10.1% and poverty 21.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$45,456
Median household income
Education F
11.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
7.1x
Home value $323,400 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,503/mo
2BR fair market rent (40% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$12,716/yr
Center-based infant care (28% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$45,456
▼ 27% vs national
Per Capita Income
$21,616
Unemployment Rate
10.1%
Poverty Rate
21.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$323,400
▲ 18% vs national
Median Rent
$1,027/mo
Owner Occupied
51.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,503/mo
▲ 25% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,116
1BR
$1,213
2BR
$1,503
3BR
$2,067
4BR
$2,503

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
11.1%
▼ 19 ppt vs national
High School+
47.0%
Median Age
37.0
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,716/yr
28% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,364/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,582/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,912/yr

What This Means

Dos Palos, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (18/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 9,591. Challenges include income and education and housing and rent 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 Dos Palos, CA affordable?
Dos Palos, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (18/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $45,456. Median home value is $323,400.
What is the cost of living in Dos Palos?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,027/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,503/mo. Infant childcare $12,716/yr. Median home value $323,400.
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 →