States › California › Lake Mathews

Is Lake Mathews, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,97913% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$101,858about $8,488/month · 17% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$760,900129% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 68% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.5 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 35.3 minutes each way. Most homes (78.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $79,160 a year. That is $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 214 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Lake Mathews
$1,979
Huron
$1,118
Calipatria
$974
Colusa
$1,200
Jamul
$3,500+
Desert Palms
$3,038
Lucas Valley-Marinwood
$3,500+

How much do households earn in Lake Mathews?

Under $25k
7.9%
$25k–50k
16.1%
$50k–100k
44.5%
$100k–150k
17.7%
$150k+
12.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 29.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Lake Mathews overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lake Mathews, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Lake Mathews

🏛️ Property tax$4,632a year · 0.61% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$183a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Lake Mathews

Commute to work35.3 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree25.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home78.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line8.1%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment12.7%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Mathews?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,301 a month less.

Renting
$1,979
Owning
$5,280

Owning assumes a typical $760,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $76,090 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Lake Mathews, CA?

Renting in Lake Mathews costs a median of about $1,979 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Lake Mathews?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $79,160 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Lake Mathews cheap or expensive?

Lake Mathews is rated OK: rent takes 23.3% of the typical household income of $101,858. It ranks 214th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Lake Mathews?

The median homeowner in Lake Mathews pays $4,632 a year in property taxes, about 0.61% of the median home value.

Is Lake Mathews more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Lake Mathews?

The median home value in Lake Mathews is $760,900, about 7.5 times the typical yearly household income.

6,527 people live in Lake Mathews. Numbers are typical (middle) values.