Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $761,540 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 15.1% | 10.0% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,606 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 6.6% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in National City is about 19% higher than in California. Rent is about 18% lower than the California average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in National City, up about 15.1% and 6.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in National City rose about 62.6% between 2015 and 2023, from $988 to $1,606. Over the same span, rent in California rose about 55.7%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 11.9 yearly household incomes in National City.
Buying the median-priced home in National City costs roughly 39.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in National City. The price-to-rent ratio in California is about 27.4.
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $761,540 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $64,170 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 11.9 | 6.6 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in National City rose about 243.4%, while median household income rose about 75.9% between 2009 and 2023 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 51.6% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 61.3% | 40.9% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 5.8% | 7.6% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 14.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2012 | 2011 | 2011 |
National City has a homeownership rate of 32.9%, lower than the California average of 51.6%. Its housing vacancy rate is 5.8%, compared with 7.6% in California.
Housing Stock
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 3.06 people | 2.85 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1967 | 1975 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in National City was built around 1967. On average, 3.1 people live in a home with about 4.0 rooms, staying for about 14.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in National City, California.
What is the median home price in National City, California?
The median home price in National City, California is $761,540, higher than the California average of $642,203.
What is the average home price in National City, California?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in National City, California?
The median gross rent in National City, California is $1,606 per month, lower than the California average of $1,955.
What was the median gross rent in National City in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in National City, California was $1,251 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in National City, California?
The price-to-rent ratio in National City, California is about 39.5, meaning it would take roughly 39.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in National City.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in National City, California?
Both home prices and rent are rising in National City, up about 15.1% and 6.6% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in National City, California?
32.9% of households in National City, California own their home, lower than the California average of 51.6%.
What is the vacancy rate in National City, California?
The housing vacancy rate in National City, California is 5.8%, lower than the California average of 7.6%.