Rent vs buy in Carson, CA
In Carson, California, the typical monthly rent is $2,909, while the typical home value is $787,368.
Renting comes out ahead by $39k over 7 years
Today's mortgage rate, a 20% down payment and Carson's typical rent and home value drive this calculation. The break-even point is year 10.
The opinion is clearly labeled, and the math is shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust a number, and the stamp updates.
- Renting comes out ahead by
- $39k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 10 when owning catches up
- Full cost of ownership
- $6,549 /mo year 1, against $2,909 rent
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In Carson, is renting or buying cheaper?
After you count the money returned when you sell, renting costs $38,860 less over 7 years. For the first 9 years, renting costs less. In year 10, owning catches up.
Rent. Ownership. Net cost to date, organized by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Carson
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story. At Carson's typical price, these are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,909 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,293 | $3,784 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $407 | 0.62% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $94 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $656 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $5,450 | $509 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,280 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $328 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $6,549 | Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two costs listed above |
The figures behind the Carson result
- The typical home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $787,368
- The typical rent comes from Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,909 /mo
- Private mortgage insurance is avoided with a 20% down payment; the engine does not model it.
- 20%
- The mortgage rate comes from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- FHFA house price index, California, 1995 to 2025 for home price growth
- Each year: 5.3%.
- Rent growth comes from CPI primary residence rent, yearly growth from 2006 through 2026
- Each year, 3.5%
- Savings return: a yearly rebalanced mix of 60% in the S&P 500 with dividends and 40% in 10-year Treasuries, 1928 to 2025
- Each year, 8.3%
- Carson property tax data from Census ACS 2020-2024, Carson
- The rate on the value is 0.62%.
- Carson home insurance data from Census ACS 2020-2024, Carson
- Monthly cost: $94.
- UpkeepFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Each year, 1% of value
- Buying costs from Freddie Mac: 2% to 5% midpoint
- 3.5% of the price
- Selling costs: agent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would reverse the Carson result?
With everything else unchanged, each line shows where Carson's 7-year verdict changes.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Our 5.3% figure reflects California's rate over the long run; home prices rise by less than 5.9% a year.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.36%.
- A similar home costs under $3,330 a month to rent (the local typical rent is $2,909).
- Before year 10, you move.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 5.9% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.36% (today's is 7.24%).
- The monthly rent for that same home would exceed $3,330.
- You remain for 10 years or longer.
How Carson compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Carson | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $787,368 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,909 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.6 (#221 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.8% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.62% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 26% | 42% |
Source: Zillow's ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More California cities
- Rent wins in Los Angeles, CA, by $111k.
- Rent. San Diego, CA. Renting leads by $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting leads by $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting leads by $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying leads by $22k.