Calimesa, CA vs Fair Oaks, CA

Calimesa is moderately more affordable than Fair Oaks, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Calimesa scores 128 compared to 146 for Fair Oaks, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fair Oaks can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Calimesa is $1,852/month compared to $1,797/month in Fair Oaks — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fair Oaks has cheaper rent, Calimesa actually has lower median home values ($423,300 vs $645,600).

Median household income in Calimesa is $90,313 compared to $111,332 in Fair Oaks (-18.9%). While Fair Oaks is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Calimesa spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 19.4% in Fair Oaks.