Rent vs buy in Rancho Cordova, CA
The typical rent is $2,412 /mo and the typical home is $528,888 in Rancho Cordova, California.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $6k
Rancho Cordova's typical home value and rent, assuming 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even in year 7.
An opinion, clearly marked, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number, and the stamp changes with it.
- Owning is ahead by
- $6k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 7 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $4,506 /mo year 1, against $2,412 rent
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The stamp takes its rent and home value from Rancho Cordova's typical figures. Your chosen years, rent and price can reverse the result.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Rancho Cordova?
Over 7 years, buying costs $6,389 less once you count the money you get back when you sell. In year 7, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Renting. The ownership option. The net cost so far, listed by year.
Rancho Cordova: average rent versus mortgage payment
At Rancho Cordova's typical price, this shows every monthly expense during year 1, not just rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,412 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,883 | $2,542 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $357 | 0.81% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $87 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $441 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,768 | $342 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $860 | What the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $220 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,506 | Cash out minus equity, then add the two entries above. |
The figures behind Rancho Cordova's verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $528,888
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,412 /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, Rancho Cordova
- 0.81% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Rancho Cordova
- $87 /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 reverse the Rancho Cordova verdict?
Each line shows where Rancho Cordova's 7-year result changes, with everything else held the same.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow by less than 5.2% a year. We use California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 7.45%.
- Monthly rent for a similar home is under $2,340, compared with the typical $2,412 here.
- Your move happens before year 7.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise by more than 5.2% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate below 7.45%, and today's rate is 7.24%.
- Renting this same home would cost over $2,340 monthly.
- You remain for 7 years, or for a longer period.
Rancho Cordova compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Rancho Cordova | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $528,888 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,412 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 18.3 (#421 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 3.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.81% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 42% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More California cities
- Rent. Los Angeles, CA. Renting is ahead by $111k.
- Rent. San Diego, CA. The renting advantage is $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting leads by $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting leads by $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying leads by $22k.
- Toss-up. Sacramento, CA. Renting has a slight edge by $3k.
- Rent. Long Beach, CA. The result puts renting ahead by $111k.
- Rent. Oakland, CA. Renting leads by $44k.
- Buy. Bakersfield, CA. Buying leads by $11k.
- Rent. Anaheim, CA. Renting leads by $115k.
- Buy. Stockton, CA. Buying leads by $16k.
- Rent. Riverside, CA. Renting leads by $27k.