F

Magalia, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 31/100

Population: 12,251 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Magalia, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 12,251 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (31/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $61,280, median home value of $292,400, median rent of $1,441 per month, and 17.8% 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 $1,625 per month (studio $1,155, 1BR $1,270, 3BR $2,260, 4BR $2,726). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $18,410 per year, consuming 30% 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 education, housing, commute, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 9.9% and poverty 11.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$61,280
Median household income
Education F
17.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.8x
Home value $292,400 vs income
Commute F
38 min
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,625/mo
2BR fair market rent (32% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$18,410/yr
Center-based infant care (30% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$61,280
▼ 1% vs national
Per Capita Income
$34,618
Unemployment Rate
9.9%
Poverty Rate
11.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$292,400
▲ 6% vs national
Median Rent
$1,441/mo
Owner Occupied
84.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,625/mo
▲ 35% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,155
1BR
$1,270
2BR
$1,625
3BR
$2,260
4BR
$2,726

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
17.8%
▼ 12 ppt vs national
High School+
53.4%
Median Age
48.4
Avg. Commute
38 min
▲ 12 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$18,410/yr
30% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,247/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,313/yr
School-Age (Center)
$4,507/yr

What This Means

Magalia, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (31/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 12,251. Challenges include education and housing and commute and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Magalia, CA affordable?
Magalia, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (31/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $61,280. Median home value is $292,400.
What is the cost of living in Magalia?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,441/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,625/mo. Infant childcare $18,410/yr. Median home value $292,400.
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 →