Cities with the most expensive homes in California
Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, plays a huge role for buyers.
The typical home value in the United States was $366,712 in April, 0.7% higher than the year before.
High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of May 14, the sits at 6.36%.
Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.
compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in California using data from . Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of April 2026. The charts in this story were created automatically using .
Metros with the most cities in the top 30 in California
#1. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA: 11
#2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 8
#3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 6
#4. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: 2
#4. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: 2
#6. Salinas, CA: 1
#30. San Marino
- Typical home value: $2,852,320
- 1-year price change: +7.2%
- 5-year price change: +24.4%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#29. Menlo Park
- Typical home value: $2,867,595
- 1-year price change: +5.2%
- 5-year price change: +19.6%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#28. Emerald Lake Hills
- Typical home value: $2,940,038
- 1-year price change: +1.8%
- 5-year price change: +13.7%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#27. Del Monte Forest
- Typical home value: $2,943,635
- 1-year price change: +3.3%
- 5-year price change: +34.9%
- Metro area: Salinas, CA
#26. Laguna Beach
- Typical home value: $3,006,761
- 1-year price change: +3.2%
- 5-year price change: +40.9%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#25. Summerland
- Typical home value: $3,052,264
- 1-year price change: +0.4%
- 5-year price change: +47.8%
- Metro area: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
#24. Tiburon
- Typical home value: $3,078,399
- 1-year price change: +4.0%
- 5-year price change: +14.2%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#23. Diablo
- Typical home value: $3,150,795
- 1-year price change: -0.9%
- 5-year price change: +10.5%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#22. Rolling Hills
- Typical home value: $3,152,664
- 1-year price change: -1.5%
- 5-year price change: +18.9%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#21. Cupertino
- Typical home value: $3,183,398
- 1-year price change: +1.8%
- 5-year price change: +36.2%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#20. Malibu
- Typical home value: $3,232,835
- 1-year price change: -1.6%
- 5-year price change: +19.0%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#19. Manhattan Beach
- Typical home value: $3,260,960
- 1-year price change: +5.0%
- 5-year price change: +25.2%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#18. Stanford
- Typical home value: $3,316,685
- 1-year price change: +2.0%
- 5-year price change: +27.0%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#17. Stinson Beach
- Typical home value: $3,399,314
- 1-year price change: +7.1%
- 5-year price change: +15.3%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#16. Beverly Hills
- Typical home value: $3,672,505
- 1-year price change: +4.2%
- 5-year price change: +6.8%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#15. Palo Alto
- Typical home value: $3,683,761
- 1-year price change: +1.9%
- 5-year price change: +21.1%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#14. Newport Beach
- Typical home value: $3,709,420
- 1-year price change: +9.0%
- 5-year price change: +65.4%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#13. Del Mar
- Typical home value: $3,766,719
- 1-year price change: +1.8%
- 5-year price change: +40.8%
- Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
#12. Woodside
- Typical home value: $3,983,811
- 1-year price change: +2.8%
- 5-year price change: +19.3%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#11. Ross
- Typical home value: $4,031,406
- 1-year price change: +4.3%
- 5-year price change: +14.2%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#10. Saratoga
- Typical home value: $4,209,301
- 1-year price change: +1.8%
- 5-year price change: +39.1%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#9. Portola Valley
- Typical home value: $4,342,136
- 1-year price change: +9.7%
- 5-year price change: +31.3%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#8. Rancho Santa Fe
- Typical home value: $4,428,039
- 1-year price change: +4.3%
- 5-year price change: +59.4%
- Metro area: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
#7. Los Altos
- Typical home value: $4,681,519
- 1-year price change: +3.6%
- 5-year price change: +35.3%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#6. Belvedere
- Typical home value: $4,776,546
- 1-year price change: +5.1%
- 5-year price change: +12.4%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#5. Hidden Hills
- Typical home value: $5,252,332
- 1-year price change: +4.5%
- 5-year price change: +45.1%
- Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
#4. Hillsborough
- Typical home value: $5,422,424
- 1-year price change: +7.6%
- 5-year price change: +16.8%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
#3. Montecito
- Typical home value: $5,630,816
- 1-year price change: +9.2%
- 5-year price change: +64.5%
- Metro area: Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
#2. Los Altos Hills
- Typical home value: $6,069,528
- 1-year price change: +2.4%
- 5-year price change: +24.6%
- Metro area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
#1. Atherton
- Typical home value: $8,203,578
- 1-year price change: +9.4%
- 5-year price change: +22.5%
- Metro area: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA