F

Firebaugh, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 19/100

Population: 9,581 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Firebaugh, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 9,581 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (19/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $48,021, median home value of $244,400, median rent of $968 per month, and 4.8% 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 $1,664 per month (studio $1,347, 1BR $1,355, 3BR $2,314, 4BR $2,660). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $21,611 per year, consuming 45% 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 18.1% and poverty 35.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$48,021
Median household income
Education F
4.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.1x
Home value $244,400 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,664/mo
2BR fair market rent (42% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$21,611/yr
Center-based infant care (45% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$48,021
▼ 23% vs national
Per Capita Income
$16,683
Unemployment Rate
18.1%
Poverty Rate
35.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$244,400
▼ 11% vs national
Median Rent
$968/mo
Owner Occupied
46.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,664/mo
▲ 39% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,347
1BR
$1,355
2BR
$1,664
3BR
$2,314
4BR
$2,660

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
4.8%
▼ 25 ppt vs national
High School+
33.7%
Median Age
31.9
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$21,611/yr
45% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,990/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,554/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,666/yr

What This Means

Firebaugh, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (19/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 9,581. 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 Firebaugh, CA affordable?
Firebaugh, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (19/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $48,021. Median home value is $244,400.
What is the cost of living in Firebaugh?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $968/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,664/mo. Infant childcare $21,611/yr. Median home value $244,400.
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 →