Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Los Ranchos, California
A $1,231,000 home here costs
$8,979per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $385,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $6,711. The real number is $2,267 higher every month, 34% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare San Luis Obispo County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Los Ranchos from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,521 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The San Luis Obispo County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Los Ranchos against San Luis Obispo County and California
| Measure | Los Ranchos | San Luis Obispo County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,231,000 | $777,200 |
| Median property tax | $10,001 | $5,475 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.812% | 0.704% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,899 |
| Population | 1,521 | 281,486 |
The weather behind that power bill
Los Ranchos sits in San Luis Obispo County, which averages a high of 79.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.2°F in its coldest, with 17.94" of precipitation a year and 59% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 334 cooling and 2,265 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for San Luis Obispo County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in San Luis Obispo County
Full San Luis Obispo County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Los Ranchos averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Los Ranchos every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Los Ranchos I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Los Ranchos?
A $1,231,000 home in Los Ranchos, California costs approximately $8,979 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $6,711 principal and interest, $833 property tax, $191 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $1,026 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Los Ranchos?
Los Ranchos has an effective property tax rate of 0.812%, based on a median home value of $1,231,000 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is higher than the San Luis Obispo County average of 0.704%.
What is the average home price in Los Ranchos?
The median owner-occupied home value in Los Ranchos, California is $1,231,000, against $777,200 across San Luis Obispo County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Los Ranchos?
Rent data is not published for Los Ranchos at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Los Ranchos?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Los Ranchos, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $385,000 a year. That covers the full $8,979 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Los Ranchos, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.