Advertiser Disclosure
GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences. These brands compensate us to advertise their products in ads across our site. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site. We are not a comparison-tool and these offers do not represent all available deposit, investment, loan or credit products.
10 Most Affordable Cities in California for the Middle Class
Written by
GOBankingRates Staff
Edited by
Chris Cluff

Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 YearsHelping You Live Richer
Reviewed by Experts
Trusted by Millions of Readers
California is full of affordable places for the middle class to live. There are about 100 cities where you still would have $20,000 in disposable income every year.
GOBankingRates recently pulled cost-of-living and housing information for U.S. cities with populations of 20,000 or more to find the best ones for the middle class. Here are the top 10 California cities.
Also see the most affordable city for the middle class in every state.
Granite Bay
- Median middle-class income: $190K
- Annual cost of living: $103K
- Money left after expenditures: $86K
El Dorado Hills
- Median middle-class income: $164K
- Annual cost of living: $92K
- Money left after expenditures: $71K
Dublin
- Median middle-class income: $205K
- Annual cost of living: $135K
- Money left after expenditures: $70K
Eastvale
- Median middle-class income: $161K
- Annual cost of living: $96K
- Money left after expenditures: $65K
Lafayette
- Median middle-class income: $222K
- Annual cost of living: $162K
- Money left after expenditures: $61K
Folsom
- Median middle-class income: $139K
- Annual cost of living: $82K
- Money left after expenditures: $57K
Moorpark
- Median middle-class income: $149K
- Annual cost of living: $94K
- Money left after expenditures: $55K
Danville
- Median middle-class income: $223K
- Annual cost of living: $169K
- Money left after expenditures: $55K
Oakley
- Median middle-class income: $132K
- Annual cost of living: $78K
- Money left after expenditures: $54K
Brentwood
- Median middle-class income: $140K
- Annual cost of living: $88K
- Money left after expenditures: $51K
Share This Article:
You May Also Like
I Asked ChatGPT What Will Happen To the Economy If the Fed Keeps Cutting Interest Rates: Here's What It Said
December 04, 2025
2 min Read
6 Ways Trump's Closing This Major Consumer Advocacy Agency Could Impact Your Finances
December 04, 2025
2 min Read
4 Grocery Items That Have Gotten Much More Expensive Since Trump Took Office
December 02, 2025
2 min Read
If You Earn $100K a Year, Here's Where You Actually Rank Among All Americans
December 02, 2025
2 min Read
If the Top 10 Billionaires' Wealth Was Distributed Equally in America, How Much Money Would Each Person Get?
December 03, 2025
2 min Read
22 States in or Near a Recession Right Now -- and What It Means for Residents
December 03, 2025
2 min Read
5 Key Signs You've Been Hacked -- and What To Do Next To Protect Your Money
December 03, 2025
2 min Read
Questions Around The Economy
Make your money work for you
Get the latest news on investing, money, and more with our free newsletter.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks!
You're now subscribed to our newsletter.
Check your inbox for more details.

Sending you timely financial stories that you can bank on.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.
For our full Privacy Policy, click here.
Looks like you're using an adblocker
Please disable your adblocker to enjoy the optimal web experience and access the quality content you appreciate from GOBankingRates.
- AdBlock / uBlock / Brave
- Click the ad blocker extension icon to the right of the address bar
- Disable on this site
- Refresh the page
- Firefox / Edge / DuckDuckGo
- Click on the icon to the left of the address bar
- Disable Tracking Protection
- Refresh the page
- Ghostery
- Click the blue ghost icon to the right of the address bar
- Disable Ad-Blocking, Anti-Tracking, and Never-Consent
- Refresh the page





