California
This is how much the 'American Dream' costs in California
LA County launches guaranteed income program
SUGGESTED: The “Breath: LA County’s Guaranteed Income Program” will give 1,000 randomly selected residents $1,000 a month for three years.
LOS ANGELES – The American Dream means something different to every American. For some, it means the old cliche of the white picket fence in front of the suburban home with a nuclear family. For others, it could be as simple as working hard to end up with a better life than you had. But a new study from GOBankingRates shows that the American Dream comes with a hefty price tag, especially in California.
In order to put a value on it, though, researchers first had to define it. Whether it’s your definition of the American Dream or not, for their study, GOBankingRates defined the American Dream as a married couple that owns a home and a car, that has two children and pets. Then, the study figured out how much all of that stuff costs per state annually — from groceries and a mortgage, to monthly bills like utilities, to child and pet care and more.
Then they took that total cost and doubled it, to account for savings and a general spending budget. All told, the study found the cost of the American Dream in California is $245,734 per year. That number makes California the second-most expensive state for “achieving” the American Dream. Only Hawaii comes with a higher price tag, of just over $260,000 a year.
Here’s how the study broke it down:
- Groceries: $9,306
- Pet care: $1,759
- Car: $8,694
- Median home price: $785,294
- Mortgage: $55,389
- Healthcare: $8,018
- Utilities: $7,553
- Education: $3,721
- Child Care: $28,420
- Total: $122,861
- “Cost of the American Dream”: $245,723
If that number seems high to you, that’s not surprising. While the American Dream is something to work toward, many Californians are falling well short.
A Nov. 2023 report from Axios found that many Americans are saving less, so having 50% of your money available for saving and discretionary spending simply isn’t an option for many in California. In fact, the average Californian can’t even cover those basic costs, at least according to the Department of Justice. Their stats from 2022 on median income by state show the average Californian family of four makes just over $111,000 a year. In LA County that number is $98,200.
So if not the American Dream, how about just a “happy living?” Well, more rough news for Californians. Another GOBankingRates study found that you need a minimum annual salary of $143,220 to be happy in California, citing “California’s notoriously high cost of living.”
You can see how much the American Dream costs in each state in GOBankingRates’ full study, by tapping or clicking here.
CHICO, Calif. — A shooting at a library in Northern California on Monday left two people dead and a suspect is in custody, according to police.
Police responded to a 911 call soon after 5 p.m. in which the sounds of gun shots and people screaming could be heard coming from inside the Chico branch of the Butte County Library, Billy Aldridge, the city’s chief of police, said during a news conference.
Once officers were inside the library, the suspect fled out of the back, he said. Additional law enforcement behind the library took the suspect into custody, according to Aldridge.
“The incident this evening was obviously very sad, traumatic for a lot of people. Very traumatic for our community,” he said.
The streets around the library were closed temporarily and a family reunification center was set up for the people who were inside the building.
A child was also taken to the hospital with a minor injury.
Aldridge said there is no serious threat to the public and law enforcement are investigating the shooting.
The police didn’t release the suspect’s name nor details on what prompted the shooting. Law enforcement said they believe the shooter acted alone.
Law enforcement are also not releasing the names of the people killed until next of kin have been notified.
The county urged the public to avoid the area and said all Butte County library branches will be closed Tuesday.
The county in a post on Facebook offered “deepest condolences to everyone affected, including the victims, their loved ones, library staff, and all those impacted by this heartbreaking incident.”
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KERO) — A 12-year-old boy is dead and another child was hospitalized after two unleashed dogs attacked a group of children at Central Park in California City on Friday, June 18.
California City Mayor Edwin Hawkins said police responded to the scene after reports that four children had been mauled.
Fernando Torres Moreno, 12, jumped into a nearby lake to escape the charging dogs. Officers pulled Fernando from the water, and he was taken to the hospital, where he died the next day.
A second child suffered serious, though non-life-threatening, dog bite wounds and has since been released from the hospital. Two additional children were shaken but did not require medical treatment.
Authorities say the dogs, both mixed breed, were off-leash but in the presence of their owner when the attack unfolded.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. No arrests have been made.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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California’s high school baseball season may be over, but that means football season is on the horizon.
In just a matter of weeks, California’s top programs will return to the field looking to make their mark in one of the nation’s most competitive high school football landscapes.
The 2025 season delivered plenty of memorable moments, from Santa Margarita’s CIF Open Division State Championship Bowl Game title and a No. 3 spot in USA TODAY Sports’ Super 25 football rankings to major offseason roster moves. Now, a new stage is set as teams look to earn their way to the top stages in high school football.
When do teams return to action for the 2026 season? Here are all the dates to know:
California high school football season start dates: CIF
First practice date: July 27, 2026
Date of first games: Aug. 21, 2026
High school football practices for teams competing within the CIF in “Week 0” games get underway on July 27, 2026, with the date of the first games set for Aug. 21. Teams who have a bye in their schedule will play on this timeline.
Teams that do not have a bye in their schedule, and therefore do not have a “Week 0” game, will kick off on Aug. 28 with their first practice date set for Aug. 3.
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