Moving to Clearlake, CA — Cost, Timing, Best-For

What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.

36
Momentum score
$208,384
Median home value
-4.6%
Home YoY
16,636
Population

If you're considering a move to Clearlake, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.

Clearlake is a city in Lake County, California, with an estimated population of 16,636. The median home value in Clearlake is $208,384 as of 2026-04, down 4.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged -0.3% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 19% below its 5-year peak. The composite momentum score is 36 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.

Prices have come off recent highs (-18.8% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.

Reasons people move here

  • Reset opportunity: 19% off recent peak but +6.0% annualized over 10 years — long-run trend is up even if the last year wasn't.
  • The data is the data: Clearlake has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.

Things to know first

  • Cooling: -4.6% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
  • 19% off recent peak — buyers are getting through-the-cycle pricing, not the peak.
  • Long-run gains, recently flat: 5-year CAGR is -0.3% but 10-year is +6.0%. The last few years have not been kind.

More about Clearlake

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.