13 California Cities Where the Average List Price Is Over $1M

Living in California is expensive, whether you’re a millionaire or not. According to Forbes, the state ranks second nationwide for average home price, with the median home price rising 3.3% this past year to more than $818,000, sourced from Redfin. For reference, the national median is around only $433,000.

Also according to Redfin, the number of homes going up for sale in California has risen by 21.7% this year and they’re spending more time on the market compared to last year as well. So it may be a good time to go house hunting if you like looking at a wide variety of options. 

Here’s a list of 13 California cities you might want to consider if you can afford the million-dollar price tag.

Curious about the most expensive home in California? This home sold for 210 million.

• Average list price: $1,090,000
• Average price per square foot: $600
• Average days on market: 35

• Average list price: $1,174,950
• Average price per square foot: $714
• Average days on market: 22

• Average list price: $1,198,000
• Average price per square foot: $710
• Average days on market: 38

• Average list price: $1,214,500
• Average price per square foot: $956
• Average days on market: 22

• Average list price: $1,222,500
• Average price per square foot: $880
• Average days on market: 25

• Average list price: $1,225,000
• Average price per square foot: $627
• Average days on market: 61

• Average list price: $1,250,000
• Average price per square foot: $970
• Average days on market: 54

• Average list price: $1,260,000
• Average price per square foot: $781
• Average days on market: 39

• Average list price: $1,399,000
• Average price per square foot: $747
• Average days on market: 35

• Average list price: $1,589,888
• Average price per square foot: $706
• Average days on market: 38

• Average list price: $1,712,000
• Average price per square foot: $1,271
• Average days on market: 20

• Average list price: $1,730,000
• Average price per square foot: $859
• Average days on market: 24

• Average list price: $1,796,500
• Average price per square foot: $828
• Average days on market: 36

If you want to live in California but a million-dollar home is just out of your budget, check out these seven popular cities with slightly more affordable home prices:

• Sacramento: $530,000 average list price
• Riverside: $690,000 average list price
• Corona: $799,900 average list price
• Temecula: $814,000 average list price
• Long Beach: $845,000 average list price
• Rancho Cucamonga: $859,975 average list price
• San Diego: $989,000 average list price

While there are plenty of expensive housing markets within California, there are affordable options as well. Before you get too far into the house-hunting process, research the housing and living costs in different areas and consider the following tips:

1. Learn about regional variations: California is a large state with a wide range of geographic and cultural diversity. Research local pricing trends and visit different areas to find out which region best suits your preferences.
2. Understand local zoning and building regulations: Read up on California’s strict zoning and environmental protection laws to determine whether they match your future plans for renovations or construction.
3. Be aware of natural disasters: California is prone to wildfires, earthquakes and floods — all of which pose a serious risk to homeowners. If you do buy a house in a disaster-prone area, be sure to purchase homeowner’s insurance.
4. Follow seasonal trends: Local housing markets experience fluctuations throughout the year, so stay up to date on economic trends and be patient so that you can make an offer when the time is right.
5. Get pre-approved for a mortgage: California’s housing market can be competitive, so make sure you’ve done all of your homework before you go house shopping. That includes getting a mortgage preapproval, which will show sellers that you’re serious about your offer and can streamline the purchasing process.

^{*All housing data is sourced from Redfin, unless otherwise stated.}