Rent vs buy in Hawthorne, CA
In Hawthorne, California, typical rent is $2,151 /mo and a typical home costs $863,012.
Renting saves $143k over 7 years
The calculation uses Hawthorne's figures for typical rent and home value, assumes 20% down and applies today's mortgage rate. The break-even point is year 22.
This opinion is clearly labelled, and the math is shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number, and the stamp changes with it.
- Renting leads by
- $143k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 22 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $7,211 /mo year 1, against $2,151 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Hawthorne?
Over 7 years, renting costs $142,978 less after counting the money returned to you when you sell. For the first 21 years, renting costs less. In year 22, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
Average rent compared with the mortgage payment in Hawthorne
Rent and mortgage alone don't tell the whole story. Here are all the monthly costs for year 1, using Hawthorne's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,151 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $4,705 | $4,147 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $496 | 0.69% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $86 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $719 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $6,007 | $558 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,403 | Annual return the cash would earn at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $360 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $7,211 | Cash out, minus the equity portion, plus the two amounts above |
Figures behind the Hawthorne result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $863,012
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,151 /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, Hawthorne
- 0.69% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Hawthorne
- $86 /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 cause it to flip in Hawthorne?
Each line shows where the verdict changes for Hawthorne over 7 years, with everything else staying as it is.
Renting is better when
- A yearly growth rate below 7.1% for home prices meets this condition. Our estimate relies on California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains higher than 4.27%.
- For a home like this, rent is less than $3,680 each month. The typical amount here is $2,151.
- You move earlier than year 22.
When buying comes out ahead
- Home prices rise faster than 7.1% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.27% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $3,680 a month to rent.
- You remain there for 22 years or longer.
How Hawthorne compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Hawthorne | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $863,012 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,151 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 33.4 (#41 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 6.1% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.69% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 73% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across California
- Rent. Renting in Los Angeles, CA puts you $111k ahead.
- Rent. Renting in San Diego, CA puts you $108k ahead.
- Rent. Renting in San Jose, CA puts you $210k ahead.
- Rent. Renting in San Francisco, CA puts you $128k ahead.
- Buy. Buying in Fresno, CA puts you $22k ahead.
- Toss-up. Renting is $3k ahead in Sacramento, CA.
- Rent. Renting in Long Beach, CA puts you $111k ahead.
- Rent. Renting in Oakland, CA puts you $44k ahead.
- Buy. In Bakersfield, CA, buying wins by $11k.
- Rent. In Anaheim, CA, renting wins by $115k.
- Buy. In Stockton, CA, buying wins by $16k.
- Rent. In Riverside, CA, renting comes out ahead by $27k.