Rent vs buy in Citrus Heights, CA
For Citrus Heights, California, typical rent is $1,883 /mo and a typical home runs $468,847.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $13k.
It relies on Citrus Heights's usual rent and home price, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point arrives in year 9.
An opinion, clearly labelled, and the math is shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Rent leads by
- $13k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- In year 9 when owning catches up
- Full cost of ownership
- $3,939 each month year 1, against $1,883 rent
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Citrus Heights's usual rent and home price drive the stamp. Your rent, price and years can change the result.
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In Citrus Heights, is renting or buying less expensive?
If you count the money returned when you sell, renting is cheaper by $12,523 over 7 years. For the first 8 years, renting costs less. By year 9, owning catches up.
Rent. Own. Net cost to date, organized by year.
Citrus Heights: average rent compared with mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover everything. At Citrus Heights's typical price, these are all monthly costs during year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,883 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,556 | $2,253 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $250 | 0.64% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $88 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $391 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,285 | $303 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $762 | Annual return on the cash: 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $195 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,939 | Subtract the equity share from cash out, then add the two lines above. |
Figures behind the Citrus Heights verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $468,847
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,883 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, California, 1995 to 2025
- 5.3% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Citrus Heights
- 0.64% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Citrus Heights
- $88 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would switch the Citrus Heights verdict?
The 7-year verdict for Citrus Heights changes at the point shown by each line. Everything else stays the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by less than 5.6% a year, and the 5.3% we use comes from California's long-run average.
- The rate on mortgages stays above 6.77%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this is less than $2,020 (the local typical is $1,883).
- Your move happens before year 9.
Buying comes out ahead when
- The yearly growth rate for home prices is faster than 5.6%.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.77% (today's is 7.24%).
- The monthly rent for this home would exceed $2,020.
- You remain in the home for at least 9 years.
Comparing Citrus Heights with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Citrus Heights | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $468,847 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,883 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 20.7 (#300 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.64% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 39% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in California
- Renting wins by $111k. Los Angeles, CA. Rent.
- Rent. San Diego, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying comes out ahead by $22k.