D

Yuba City, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 48/100

Population: 76,660 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Yuba City, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 76,660 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (48/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $81,492, median home value of $435,311, median rent of $1,502 per month, and 21.3% 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 $15,947 per year, consuming 20% 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, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 7.1% and poverty 14.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$81,492
Median household income
Education F
21.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.3x
Home value $435,311 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,550/mo
2BR fair market rent (23% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$15,947/yr
Center-based infant care (20% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$81,492
▲ 31% vs national
Per Capita Income
$36,339
Unemployment Rate
7.1%
Poverty Rate
14.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$435,311
▲ 58% vs national
Median Rent
$1,502/mo
Owner Occupied
59.3%
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+
21.3%
▼ 9 ppt vs national
High School+
45.2%
Median Age
36.1
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,947/yr
20% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,230/yr
Preschool (Center)
$12,039/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,753/yr

What This Means

Yuba City, CA receives an overall affordability grade of D (48/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 76,660. Challenges include education and housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Yuba City ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Yuba City, CA affordable?
Yuba City, CA receives an overall affordability grade of D (48/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $81,492. Median home value is $435,311.
What is the cost of living in Yuba City?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,502/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,550/mo. Infant childcare $15,947/yr. Median home value $435,311.
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 →