Home values and rents: available snapshot
Only one observation is stored for California, MD. A historical trend cannot be calculated from this snapshot.
- Typical home value (ZHVI)
- $436,742
- Source period: 2026-05-31
- Monthly rent index (ZORI)
- $1,832
- Source period: 2026-05-31
Stored snapshot: 2026-06-29. Source dates describe the underlying observations, not today’s market.
Quick Investment Calculator
Purchase
Monthly Cash Flow
* Based on metro-wide median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Individual counties and properties vary significantly.
Score Breakdown
Based on 5.03% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.
Based on 3.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.
Based on 0.0% population growth. Growing areas indicate economic stability.
Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.
Scores are calculated using real Zillow metro-level home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. This metro score represents area-wide averages; individual counties may vary significantly.
Investment Outlook
Strengths
- +Low unemployment (0.0%)
Challenges
- -Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.03%)
- -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,099/mo)
- -Negative leverage (cap rate 3.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
- -High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging
Counties in California, MD
Compare to Similar Metros
| Metro Area | Verdict | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cadillac, MI Cadillac, MI | 74 | $235,398 | Est. | Buy | View | ||
Hutchinson, KS Hutchinson, KS | 74 | $156,249 | $826 | 6.34% | Buy | View | |
Charleston, IL Charleston, IL | 74 | $150,699 | $787 | 6.26% | Buy | View | |
Atchison, KS Atchison, KS | 74 | $185,434 | Est. | Buy | View | ||
Cortland, NY Cortland, NY | 74 | $202,961 | $1,308 | 7.73% | Buy | View | |
Current California, MD | 54 | $436,742 | $1,832 | 5.03% | Hold |
The Bottom Line
The California, MD metro area scores 54/100, ranking #661 of 894 US metros (top 74%). The 5.03% rent-to-price ratio may require targeting specific counties or creative strategies for positive cash flow. Current metro-wide averages make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or drilling down to specific counties.