Rent vs buy in Rocklin, CA
In Rocklin, California, the typical rent is $2,408 /mo and the typical home price is $688,043.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $64k.
Using Rocklin's typical rent and home value, plus 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even in year 14.
A clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These numbers are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates whenever you change a number.
- Renting leads by
- $64k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 14 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $5,907 /mo year 1, against $2,408 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Rocklin?
Over 7 years, renting saves $64,304 when you include the money returned after you sell. For the first 13 years, renting costs less. In year 14, owning catches up.
Rent. Own. Net cost to date, by year.
How average rent compares with the mortgage payment in Rocklin
For year 1, here's every monthly cost at Rocklin's typical price, not just rent and the mortgage.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,408 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $3,751 | $3,306 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $516 | 0.9% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $106 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $573 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $4,947 | $445 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $1,118 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $287 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $5,907 | Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two lines above |
The figures behind Rocklin's result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $688,043
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,408 /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, Rocklin
- 0.9% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Rocklin
- $106 /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 the Rocklin verdict to flip?
Each line marks where Rocklin's 7-year verdict changes, while everything else remains as it is.
Renting is cheaper when
- Home prices grow at a rate below 6.4% each year, using California's rate over the long run of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.58%.
- Renting a similar home costs less than $3,100 a month, compared with the typical $2,408 here.
- Your move happens before year 14.
Buying is cheaper when
- Home prices rise by more than 6.4% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.58% (today's is 7.24%).
- The monthly rent for the same home would exceed $3,100.
- You remain there for 14 years or more.
How Rocklin compares with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Rocklin | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $688,043 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,408 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 23.8 (#175 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.6% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.90% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 32% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More California cities
- Rent. Los Angeles, CA. Renting saves you $111k.
- Rent. San Diego, CA. Renting saves you $108k.
- Rent. San Jose, CA. Renting saves you $210k.
- Rent. San Francisco, CA. Renting saves you $128k.
- Buy. Fresno, CA. Buying saves you $22k.
- Toss-up. Sacramento, CA. The result is close, with renting ahead by $3k.
- For Long Beach, CA, renting comes out $111k ahead of buying.
- Rent. Oakland, CA. Renting saves you $44k.
- Buy. Bakersfield, CA. Buying saves you $11k.
- Rent. Anaheim, CA. Renting saves you $115k.
- Buy. Stockton, CA. Buying saves you $16k.
- Rent. Riverside, CA. Renting saves you $27k.