Dick Lucas, a candidate for the California Assembly in the 51st District, addressed housing costs in California on the social media platform X. He said that these costs are approximately twice the national average, positioning the state at the forefront of a systemic affordability crisis affecting many aspects of daily life.
“California housing costs double the national average,” said Lucas, California Assembly Candidate. “At the forefront of our affordability crisis. We can’t flourish if people can’t afford to live here.”
California’s overall cost of living is about 34% higher than the U.S. average. According to LivingCost.org, a typical Californian family of four incurs $6,713 per month, with $3,453 allocated to rent and utilities alone. This elevated baseline places significant pressure on household budgets, limiting spending on essentials such as food, healthcare, and savings, thereby undermining financial stability.
Residents in California face some of the highest electricity rates in the United States, averaging $0.26 per kilowatt-hour—more than double the national average of $0.13/kWh. These high rates are attributed to investments in renewable energy, wildfire mitigation costs, and reliance on imported electricity. The issue of housing affordability is further compounded by these steep energy costs that strain everyday budgets and reduce disposable income for other necessities.
Beyond high housing expenses, utility costs—which include electricity, water, and heating—are significantly higher than national averages across California. This contributes to an overall 50% higher burden for housing and utilities combined. Rising household expenditures on essentials further erode affordability for lower- and middle-income families.
The California Budget & Policy Center notes that when households face unaffordable housing costs, they often cut back on other essentials such as healthcare, nutritious food, quality child care, or retirement savings. This domino effect can force families into substandard living conditions or even homelessness, producing long-term harms to well-being and economic opportunity.
Lucas is a 32-year-old tech executive and sixth-generation Californian who leads a Santa Monica-based software business focused on job creation and infrastructure development. He is running for the California State Assembly in the 51st District—which includes Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and parts of Los Angeles—with a platform centered on “legalize building,” CEQA reform (California Environmental Quality Act), and pro-housing and pro-technology policy innovation.
