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City Housing Verdict

Lamont, CA

High Pressure

The cost of living in Lamont, CA is 5% below the national average (Cost Index: 95). Homes here are typically valued around $241,127, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $34,436 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Lamont already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 34% rent burden, 7x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 79. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
No-Go

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Lamont.

Monthly Housing
$982/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
34%
Stretch
Residual Cash
$1,388/mo
After housing and debt · $463/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 52%
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Cost Index
95
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$241,127
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $210,700
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$982/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$34,436
National: $78,538
Population
13,481
Purchasing Power
46
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
79 / 100
21% below average
Rent Index
73 / 100
27% below average
Goods & Groceries
105 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
158 / 100
58% higher utility bills
Healthcare & Services
100 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
95
Average

Lamont Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $241,127 and California's property tax rate of 0.71%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$34,436
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
34%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
7x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Lamont looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Lamont, CA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$1,712
Monthly Impact
$143
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.71%
National avg: ~1.00%

California Place Tax Context

Tax TypeCaliforniaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.71%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate13.3%~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.85%~5.0%

Compare Lamont to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Lamont, CA
95
73
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Lamont, CA: 79
Rent Prices
73

FAQ: Living in Lamont

What is the cost of living like in Lamont, CA?+

Living costs in Lamont land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 95 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $241,127, and typical monthly rents run around $982. Groceries and utilities are slightly above what you would find in most US cities.

How does Lamont fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $982, while local median household income is $34,436. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 34% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Lamont, CA?+

California has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 13.3%. The effective property tax rate is 0.71%. On a home worth $241,127, that translates to roughly $1,712 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.85% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Lamont, CA?+

The typical monthly rent in Lamont is around $982. That's roughly 27% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $241,127, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Lamont, CA?+

The median home in Lamont is valued at $241,127. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,219/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 46% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Lamont?+

Grocery prices in Lamont are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 105, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 158). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Lamont, CA like to live in?+

Lamont is a small town with a population of about 13,481. The median age of residents is 31, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 34.93%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in California

If Lamont feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in California

Use these city pages when you want to compare Lamont against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly