Cities with the most expensive homes in California

Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.

The typical home value in the United States was $350,091 in September, 2.1% higher than the year before.

High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of Oct. 19, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits at 7.63%.

Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in California using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of September 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib.

#30. Kentfield

- Typical home value: $2,658,839
- 1-year price change: -4.9%
- 5-year price change: +27.3%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#29. Cupertino

- Typical home value: $2,671,421
- 1-year price change: -2.8%
- 5-year price change: +20.6%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#28. Summerland

- Typical home value: $2,679,697
- 1-year price change: -2.1%
- 5-year price change: +64.1%
- Metro area: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

#27. Palos Verdes Estates

- Typical home value: $2,703,879
- 1-year price change: +0.2%
- 5-year price change: +41.7%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#26. Del Monte Forest

- Typical home value: $2,722,369
- 1-year price change: +2.6%
- 5-year price change: +61.7%
- Metro area: Salinas, CA

#25. Laguna Beach

- Typical home value: $2,764,992
- 1-year price change: +2.2%
- 5-year price change: +47.0%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#24. Stanford

- Typical home value: $2,887,346
- 1-year price change: +1.7%
- 5-year price change: +18.1%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#23. Manhattan Beach

- Typical home value: $2,948,262
- 1-year price change: -0.1%
- 5-year price change: +33.5%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#22. Tiburon

- Typical home value: $2,964,865
- 1-year price change: -3.2%
- 5-year price change: +31.8%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#21. Diablo

- Typical home value: $3,000,874
- 1-year price change: -3.0%
- 5-year price change: +37.6%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#20. Newport Beach

- Typical home value: $3,072,379
- 1-year price change: +6.2%
- 5-year price change: +55.1%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#19. Palo Alto

- Typical home value: $3,189,008
- 1-year price change: -3.9%
- 5-year price change: +6.4%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#18. Malibu

- Typical home value: $3,424,284
- 1-year price change: -2.0%
- 5-year price change: +41.1%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#17. Saratoga

- Typical home value: $3,571,072
- 1-year price change: -2.0%
- 5-year price change: +34.0%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#16. Stinson Beach

- Typical home value: $3,574,527
- 1-year price change: -4.9%
- 5-year price change: +49.6%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#15. Del Mar

- Typical home value: $3,604,737
- 1-year price change: +0.7%
- 5-year price change: +49.6%
- Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

#14. Beverly Hills

- Typical home value: $3,642,137
- 1-year price change: -4.1%
- 5-year price change: +26.5%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#13. Woodside

- Typical home value: $3,656,707
- 1-year price change: -3.4%
- 5-year price change: +23.7%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#12. Portola Valley

- Typical home value: $3,786,589
- 1-year price change: -4.8%
- 5-year price change: +17.6%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#11. Ross

- Typical home value: $3,868,958
- 1-year price change: -6.9%
- 5-year price change: +33.5%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#10. Monte Sereno

- Typical home value: $3,920,895
- 1-year price change: -2.6%
- 5-year price change: +32.8%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#9. Los Altos

- Typical home value: $3,988,148
- 1-year price change: -4.0%
- 5-year price change: +23.7%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#8. Rancho Santa Fe

- Typical home value: $4,066,451
- 1-year price change: +1.5%
- 5-year price change: +65.9%
- Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

#7. Rolling Hills

- Typical home value: $4,266,001
- 1-year price change: -3.4%
- 5-year price change: +42.2%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#6. Belvedere

- Typical home value: $4,492,480
- 1-year price change: -2.4%
- 5-year price change: +25.8%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#5. Montecito

- Typical home value: $4,895,170
- 1-year price change: -3.1%
- 5-year price change: +65.2%
- Metro area: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

#4. Hidden Hills

- Typical home value: $5,051,203
- 1-year price change: -1.5%
- 5-year price change: +54.0%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

#3. Hillsborough

- Typical home value: $5,101,710
- 1-year price change: -5.1%
- 5-year price change: +21.2%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

#2. Los Altos Hills

- Typical home value: $5,454,304
- 1-year price change: -3.4%
- 5-year price change: +24.4%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

#1. Atherton

- Typical home value: $7,653,603
- 1-year price change: -4.9%
- 5-year price change: +21.8%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.