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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



National City, CA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q1 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

National City, CA Housing Market Trends

With 55,550 people, 17,440 houses or apartments, and a median cost of homes of $717,750, real estate costs in National City are among some of the highest in the nation, although house prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive California communities.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in National City, accounting for 42.60% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in National City include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 37.54%), duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 8.98%), and a few row houses and other attached homes ( 8.06%).

National City is dominated by renter-occupied one, two, or no bedrooms apartments. 68.09% of National City's dwellings are rentals.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. National City's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 46.59% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in National City include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 34.95%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 10.87%). There's also some housing in National City built before 1939 ( 7.59%).

National City Home Appreciation Rates

In the last 10 years, National City has experienced some of the highest home appreciation rates of any community in the nation. National City real estate appreciated 150.89% over the last ten years, which is an average annual home appreciation rate of 9.63%, putting National City in the top 10% nationally for real estate appreciation. If you are a home buyer or real estate investor, National City definitely has a track record of being one of the best long term real estate investments in America through the last ten years.

Appreciation rates are so strong in National City that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, National City real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, National City appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 11.84%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 71.43% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in National City. National City appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 4.80%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 20.64%.

Importantly, this makes National City one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter, and may signal the city's near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to California, our data show that National City's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 70% of the other cities and towns in California.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within National City differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in National City - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best National City real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$717,750

National City, CA Home Prices
> $1,388,000
$1,041,001 - $1,388,000
$694,001 - $1,041,000
$555,001 - $694,000
$417,001 - $555,000
$278,001 - $417,000
$139,001 - $278,000
$70,001 - $139,000
$0 - $70,000
5.5%
5.5%
8.6%
8.6%
39.9%
39.9%
30.4%
30.4%
4.8%
4.8%
2.6%
2.6%
3.5%
3.5%
1.9%
1.9%
2.8%
2.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Average

for California

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

17,440

National City Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$2,705 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
31.9%
31.9%
68.1%
68.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
6.4%
6.4%
93.6%
93.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
10.9%
10.9%
34.9%
34.9%
46.6%
46.6%
7.6%
7.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
42.6%
42.6%
8.1%
8.1%
9.0%
9.0%
37.5%
37.5%
2.7%
2.7%
0.2%
0.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
5.9%
5.9%
23.2%
23.2%
36.8%
36.8%
24.1%
24.1%
8.1%
8.1%
2.0%
2.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes