Housing Stanislaus

The Housing Stanislaus initiative was launched to create a shared understanding of the needs, challenges, and opportunities associated with increasing the housing supply throughout Stanislaus County and to develop a unified and actionable framework for accelerating affordable and market-rate housing throughout the county.

Housing is crucial to all our lives, and working together, we can set a course to ensure we have the right amount and types of housing needed for residents throughout Stanislaus County.

Housing Supply in Stanislaus County: Challenges and Solutions

Stanislaus County is facing significant housing challenges, including population growth, aging housing stock, and rising home prices. This page provides an overview of the latest data, barriers to development, and proposed solutions to ensure housing accessibility for all residents.

Key Data Points

Population Growth:

  • Stanislaus County added nearly 40,000 residents between 2011 and 2021 and is projected to grow by another 10,000 by 2031.

  • Growth necessitates expanded housing options to meet demand.

Line graph showing Stanislaus County population growth from 2011 to 2031. Population grew from 512,469 in 2011 to 550,842 in 2021, with a projected increase to 560,815 by 2031. Source: US Census American Community Survey and California Dept of Finance.
Bar chart showing number of housing structures built in Stanislaus County by decade. 36,223 built in 1970–1979, 31,516 in 1980–1989, 25,918 in 1990–1999, 30,317 in 2000–2009, and 5,013 in 2010–2019. Source: US Census American Community Survey 2021 5-year Estimates, Table B25034.

Housing Stock:

  • Nearly half (49%) of all housing units are over 40 years old.

  • New housing construction has decreased by 83% from the 2000s to the 2010s.

Home Prices and Rent:

  • Median home sale price in 2023: $461,000 (44% increase over five years).

  • Median rent in 2022: $1,450/month (25% increase since 2018).

Bar chart showing median home sale price from July 2018 to July 2023. Prices rose steadily from $320,000 in July 2018 to $461,000 in July 2022, remaining the same in July 2023. Data source: Redfin Data Center, August 2023. Bar chart showing median monthly rent in Stanislaus County from 2018 to 2022. Rent increased each year: $1,158 in 2018, $1,231 in 2019, $1,237 in 2020, $1,255 in 2021, and $1,450 in 2022. Source: Stanislaus County Affordable Housing Needs Reports and US Census American Community Survey Estimates.

Vacancy Rates:

  • Stanislaus County's vacancy rate dropped to just 4.4%, compared to California's average of over 7%.

Barriers to Housing Development

  • High development costs, including building permit fees.
  • Limited availability of "missing middle" housing types (e.g., duplexes, triplexes).
  • Aging infrastructure requiring preservation alongside new construction.
  • Challenges in accessing financing for affordable housing projects.
Line chart showing number of housing units built by decade from 1980 to 2019 in six California counties. Sacramento County had the highest number overall but declined sharply in 2010–2019. Stanislaus County peaked in 2000–2009 with 30,317 units, then dropped to 5,013 in 2010–2019. Other counties shown are San Joaquin, Merced, Madera, and Fresno. Source: US Census American Community Survey 2021 5-year Estimates, Table B25034.

Proposed Solutions

  • Expand "missing middle" housing options to diversify housing stock and meet varying needs.
  • Encourage infill development on pre-zoned residential land---approximately 2,200 acres remain undeveloped.
  • Streamline permitting processes to reduce costs and delays for developers.
  • Collaborate with community stakeholders to identify innovative strategies for affordable housing.
Bar chart showing percentage of housing cost-burdened households in 2021, defined as spending over 30% of income on housing. For households with a mortgage: 35.1% in Stanislaus County, 37.7% in California, and 27.2% nationally. For renters: 48.4% in Stanislaus County, 51.5% in California, and 46.0% nationally. Source: US Census American Community Survey, 2021 5-year estimates.

Impact on Residents

  • Increasing costs are causing more households to become housing cost-burdened.

    • Homeowners need an income of $35.37/hour to afford median monthly mortgage costs without financial strain.

    • Renters require $27.88/hour to afford median rent without becoming cost-burdened.

Monitoring Progress

The Housing Stanislaus initiative actively tracks progress through stakeholder engagement, data collection, and regular updates on implementation strategies.

Questions?


If you have any questions, please contact:

Erica Inacio
Deputy Executive Officer
Phone: (209) 480-2074
Email: moc.ytnuocnats@eoicani

Explore More


Read the Full Report:

Dive deeper into the data and solutions outlined in the housing report.

Current Report

Previous Reports