Rent vs buy in Woodland, CA
For Woodland, California, typical rent is $2,287 /mo and a typical home costs $547,493.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $7k.
The calculation uses Woodland's typical rent, home value, 20% down and the current mortgage rate. Break-even arrives in year 8.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These figures are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp updates.
- Renting is ahead by
- $7k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 8 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $4,601 /mo year 1, against $2,287 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Woodland?
Over 7 years, renting costs $6,673 less after counting the money you receive when you sell. For the first 7 years, renting costs less. By year 8, owning catches up.
Renting. Buying. Net cost so far, year by year.
Average rent compared with a mortgage payment in Woodland
Rent and the mortgage don't show the full cost, so here are all monthly expenses for year 1 at Woodland's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,287 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,985 | $2,631 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $306 | 0.67% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $90 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $456 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,837 | $354 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $890 | Annual earnings the cash would generate at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $228 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,601 | Cash out, minus the equity part, plus two entries listed above |
Numbers behind Woodland's result
- Typical home value from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $547,493
- Typical rent from Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $2,287 /mo
- Down payment: 20%; private mortgage insurance is avoided, but the engine doesn't model it.
- 20%
- Mortgage rate source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in pricesFHFA index of home prices for California, 1995 to 2025
- Annual rate: 5.3%.
- Rent growthyearly growth of CPI rent of primary residence, 2006 to 2026
- Each year: 3.5%
- Return on savings: 60% in S&P 500 with dividends, 40% in 10-year Treasuries, yearly rebalancing, 1928 to 2025
- Each year: 8.3%
- Property tax source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Woodland
- The rate is 0.67% of value.
- Home insurance source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Woodland
- Monthly cost: $90
- Maintenance costs: Fannie Mae, using the low end of the 1% to 4% range
- 1% of the value each year
- Purchase costs: Freddie Mac, using the middle of the 2% to 5% range
- 3.5% of the price
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would flip the result in Woodland?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Woodland flips, with all other factors held as they are.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Annual home price growth is below 5.4% a year; we use California's long-run rate of 5.3%.
- The mortgage rate holds above 7.02%.
- Monthly rent for a comparable home is under $2,360; the local typical figure is $2,287.
- You move ahead of year 8.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 5.4% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 7.02%, compared with today's rate of 7.24%.
- You would pay more than $2,360 a month to rent that same home.
- You remain there for 8 years or more.
Woodland compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Woodland | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $547,493 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $2,287 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 19.9 (#335 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.3% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.67% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 41% | 42% |
Data come from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in California
- Rental result. Los Angeles, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Rental result. San Diego, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $108k.
- Rental result. San Jose, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $210k.
- Rental result. San Francisco, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $128k.
- Purchase result. Fresno, CA. Buying comes out ahead by $22k.
- Close result. Sacramento, CA. It's a toss-up, with renting ahead by $3k.
- Rental result. Long Beach, CA. Renting comes out ahead by $111k.
- Rent. Oakland, CA. The gap favors renting by $44k.
- Buy. Bakersfield, CA. Home ownership is ahead by $11k.
- Rent. Anaheim, CA. The gap favors renting by $115k.
- Buy. Stockton, CA. Home ownership is ahead by $16k.
- Rent. Riverside, CA. The gap favors renting by $27k.