Calimesa, CA vs Palo Cedro, CA

Palo Cedro is moderately more affordable than Calimesa, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Calimesa scores 128 compared to 116 for Palo Cedro, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Calimesa 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 $1,204/month in Palo Cedro — a 54% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Palo Cedro has cheaper rent, Calimesa actually has lower median home values ($423,300 vs $529,900).

Median household income in Calimesa is $90,313 compared to $118,542 in Palo Cedro (-23.8%). Palo Cedro offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Calimesa spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 12.2% in Palo Cedro.