Cost of Living in Blue Lake, CA

With a cost of living index of 114, Blue Lake, CA is somewhat more expensive than average. Living here is 14% more expensive than the national average and 30% below the California state average of 144. Blue Lake is a small community of 997 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Blue Lake's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,247 (5% below the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $460,800 (51% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 8.7x the median household income — a challenging ratio that puts homeownership out of reach for many residents.

The median household income in Blue Lake is $52,813, which is 30% lower than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 28% of household income on rent. This is near the 30% threshold that financial experts generally consider the upper limit of affordability.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.