Introduction

Affordability is a critical concern for California voters heading into the midterm elections this November, especially due to the state’s high housing costs. California home prices often surpass nationwide averages,¹ and California renters spend a median of $2,100 a month on rent, 40% higher than the monthly median across the country ($1,500).² Housing costs add to affordability pressures, including high utility costs, which are also notably high in California. A recent study of water utility companies found that four in California are among the 10 most expensive in the country.³ Residential electricity rates are also almost double those in the rest of the country,⁴ and recent heat and rising temperatures across the state contribute to rising electricity bills.⁵

Housing costs are not felt equally across the state, as Latino households often face higher housing cost burdens that compound other affordability pressures compared to non-Latino residents. Almost half (47%) of Latino households in California experience a housing cost burden, meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing, compared to 40% of non-Latino households.⁶ This issue is even more severe among renters, with 58% of Latino renters being housing cost-burdened.⁷ Additionally, Latino neighborhoods experience a greater number of extreme heat days than non-Latino white neighborhoods,⁸ increasing their risk of higher utility bills to cope with rising temperatures.

In light of this context, this brief uses survey data from registered California voters to examine how Latino registered voters experience financial pressures and how their experiences compare with those of non-Latinos. The analysis considers respondents’ financial concerns about housing expenses, utility bills, and back-to-school supplies. It also looks at actions respondents report taking to manage housing-related expenses, particularly in response to rising temperatures and utility costs during the summer months.

Data and Approach

This analysis draws on polling data from registered California voters collected in August 2026 by the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) at the University of California, Berkeley. The survey included 4,207 registered voters, of whom 1,189 were Latino (28%), 3,009 were non-Latino (72%), and 9 (less than 1%) had missing ethnicity information. Because the survey includes only registered voters, findings are representative of California’s registered voter population rather than all California residents.

The analysis compares the experiences of Latino and non-Latino respondents, both overall and by household income. To ensure the findings are representative of the California registered voter population, survey weights are applied to all estimates, and Rao-Scott chi-square tests are used to determine whether differences between groups are statistically significant. This test accounts for survey weights and the survey’s complex sampling design. Sample sizes vary across questions because of item nonresponse. The survey questions examined in this analysis are provided in the appendix.

Key Findings

Key Finding 1: California Latino registered voters report greater concern about being able to keep up with their housing-related expenses than non-Latino registered voters.

Respondents were asked to describe how worried they were about their household’s ability to keep up with housing-related expenses, including rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and insurance, over the next 6 months. Possible responses ranged from very worried to not at all worried. Latino respondents were significantly more likely than non-Latino respondents to report being very worried about their ability to keep up with housing-related expenses (35% vs. 21%; see Figure 1). Latino respondents were also less likely than non-Latino respondents to report not being at all worried about their ability to keep up with housing-related expenses (10% vs. 23%). These differences were statistically significant.

Figure 1. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Keep Up with Housing-Related Expenses by Ethnicity

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report high levels of financial concern about housing-related expenses within all income groups, even as concern declined among higher-income respondents. For example, Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report being very or somewhat worried about their household’s ability to keep up with housing-related expenses within all income levels (see Figure 2). However, differences between Latino and non-Latino respondents were statistically significant only among respondents who reported earning $100,000 to $199,999 and $200,000 or more annually.

Figure 2. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Keep Up with Housing-Related Expenses by Ethnicity and Household Income

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents within the same household income group (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Key Finding 2: California Latino registered voters are more likely than non-Latino registered voters to report implementing financial trade-offs to support housing-related expenses.

Respondents were asked whether they or their household had engaged in financial trade-offs in the past 12 months to keep up with housing-related expenses. Response options included cutting back spending on food or groceries, dipping into savings, taking on additional debt, delaying medical care, delaying major purchases or financial goals, or working additional hours.

Latino respondents were significantly more likely than non-Latino respondents to report implementing trade-offs. Nearly half (46%) of Latino respondents reported cutting back on food spending, compared with 37% of non-Latino respondents (see Table 1). Latino respondents were also more likely than non-Latino respondents to report they had dipped into their savings, taken on additional debt, delayed medical care, major purchases, or financial goals, and/or worked additional hours. In contrast, 32% of non-Latino respondents reported none of the listed trade-offs, compared with 21% of Latino respondents. Differences between Latino and non-Latino respondents were statistically significant across all response options.

Table 1. Financial Trade-Offs Registered Voters Reported Taking in the Past 12 Months To Keep Up with Housing-Related Expenses by Ethnicity

Notes: Percentages exceed 100% because respondents could select multiple answers. An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents for the marked response option (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Within most income levels, Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report cutting back on groceries and delaying major purchases or financial goals (see Table 2). However, differences in cutting back on groceries were statistically significant only among households earning $40,000 to $99,999 and $200,000 or more, while differences in delaying major purchases were significant only among households earning $200,000 or more. Similarly, Latino respondents were generally more likely than non-Latino respondents to report dipping into their savings and working additional hours, and less likely to report not engaging in any trade-offs.

Table 2. Financial Trade-Offs Registered Voters Reported Taking in the Past 12 Months To Keep Up with Housing-Related Expenses by Ethnicity and Household Income

Notes: Percentages exceed 100% because respondents could select multiple answers. An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents for the marked response option within the same household income group (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Key Finding 3: California Latino registered voters report greater concern about their ability to afford electricity and cooling costs during summer months than non-Latino registered voters.

Respondents were asked to describe how worried they were about their household’s ability to afford electricity or cooling costs during periods of extreme heat on a scale from very worried to not at all worried. Overall, Latino respondents were nearly twice as likely as non-Latino respondents to report feeling very worried about their ability to afford rising electricity and cooling costs during California’s summer months (29% vs. 15%; see Figure 3). Latino respondents were also less likely than non-Latino respondents to report feeling not at all worried (16% vs. 29%). These differences were statistically significant.

Figure 3. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Afford Electricity and Cooling Costs by Ethnicity

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report high levels of concern over electricity and cooling costs within all income levels, even as financial concern generally declined among respondents with higher incomes. Within all income groups, Latino respondents were at least 10 percentage points more likely than non-Latino respondents to report feeling worried or somewhat worried about utility costs (see Figure 4). Differences between Latino and non-Latino respondents were statistically significant within all income groups except households earning $200,000 or more.

Figure 4. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Afford Electricity and Cooling Costs by Ethnicity and Household Income

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents within the same household income group (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Key Finding 4: California registered voters most commonly report limiting their use of air conditioning, using fans instead of air conditioning, and keeping part of their home warmer than preferred to lower their utility costs during periods of extreme heat.

Respondents were asked whether they, or anyone in their household, did any of the following activities to lower their energy or utility costs during periods of extreme summer heat: limited their use of air conditioning, used fans instead of air conditioning, spent more time in public places to stay cool, kept parts of their home warmer than preferred, dipped into savings to pay utility bills, or reduced spending in other areas to pay utility bills.

To lower energy and utility costs, respondents most commonly reported strategies to reduce home energy use. Roughly equal shares of Latino (47%) and non-Latino (45%) respondents reported limiting their use of air conditioning (see Table 3). Latino respondents were also slightly more likely to report using fans instead of air conditioning (47% vs. 43%), while non-Latino respondents were more likely to report keeping parts of their homes warmer than preferred (31% vs. 28%). However, the only statistically significant difference between the two groups was in spending time in public places to stay cool: Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report using this strategy to reduce energy use at home (17% vs. 13%).

Spending strategies were also common and varied significantly between Latino and non-Latino respondents. To cover their utility bills, Latino respondents were nearly twice as likely as non-Latino respondents to report using savings (17% vs. 9%) and were 6 percentage points more likely to report reducing their spending in other areas (24% vs. 18%). These differences were statistically significant.

Table 3. Strategies Registered Voters Reported Taking to Lower or Pay for Energy and Utility Costs by Ethnicity

Notes: Percentages exceed 100% because respondents could select multiple answers. An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents for the marked response option (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Strategies to reduce energy usage at home, such as limiting air conditioning, using fans, and keeping parts of the home warm, were the most commonly selected responses among all income levels for both Latino and non-Latino respondents (see Table 4). Additionally, a greater share of respondents with annual household incomes below $99,999 reported engaging in cost-saving strategies than respondents with incomes above $100,000, reflecting the limited financial cushion lower-income households have to absorb rising energy costs.

Differences in cost-saving strategies between Latino and non-Latino respondents were most notable among respondents with incomes between $40,000 and $199,999. For example, Latino respondents with household incomes of $40,000 to $99,999 were significantly more likely than their non-Latino counterparts to report dipping into their savings to pay for their utilities (19% vs. 13%). Latino respondents earning $100,000 to $199,999 were nearly twice as likely as non-Latino respondents in the same income group to report using savings (13% vs. 7%) and reducing spending in other areas to pay their utility bills (29% vs. 15%). These differences were statistically significant.

Table 4. Strategies Registered Voters Reported Taking to Lower or Pay for Energy and Utility Costs by Ethnicity and Household Income

Notes: Percentages exceed 100% because respondents could select multiple answers. An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents for the marked response option within the same household income group (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Key Finding 5: Concern among California registered voters about affording school supplies decreases as income rises.

In light of the start of the school year when the survey was distributed, respondents were asked to describe how concerned they were about their household’s ability to afford back-to-school expenses, including school supplies, clothing, and other school-related costs. Response options ranged from very concerned to not at all concerned. Overall, Latino respondents were more likely than non-Latino respondents to report being very concerned about their ability to afford back-to-school expenses (34% vs. 23%; see Figure 5). Additionally, Latino respondents were less likely than non-Latino respondents to report being not at all concerned about their ability to afford back-to-school supplies (13% vs. 23%). These differences were statistically significant.

Figure 5. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Afford Back-to-School Necessities by Ethnicity

Notes: Data in Figure 5 excludes respondents who answered “not applicable – no children in school” to “How concerned are you about your household’s ability to afford back-to-school expenses this year, including school supplies, clothing, fees, transportation, and other school-related costs?” An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Financial concern over a household’s ability to afford back-to-school supplies generally decreased as income rose for both Latino and non-Latino respondents (see Figure 6). Among respondents with annual household incomes of $40,000 to $99,999, 61% of Latino respondents and 63% of non-Latino respondents reported being very or somewhat concerned about affording school supplies. Differences in the overall distribution of responses were statistically significant for this income group, but not for the other groups.

Figure 6. Concerns Among Registered Voters About Their Household’s Ability to Afford Back-to-School Necessities by Ethnicity and Household Income

Notes: Data in Figure 6 excludes respondents who answered “not applicable – no children in school” to “How concerned are you about your household’s ability to afford back-to-school expenses this year, including school supplies, clothing, fees, transportation, and other school-related costs?” An asterisk (*) indicates a statistically significant difference between Latino and non-Latino respondents within the same household income group (p < 0.05), based on Rao-Scott chi-square tests. An exclamation point (!) indicates a small sample size (< 100). Results for Latino respondents with incomes higher than $200,000 should be interpreted with caution.

Source: Authors’ analysis of Berkeley IGS Poll, “Tabulations from an August 2026 Poll of California Registered Voters.”

Conclusion

Affordability is a widespread concern among California registered voters; however, our findings show that financial pressures are not experienced equally. Among a survey sample of registered California voters, Latino respondents reported higher levels of financial concern than non-Latino respondents when asked about keeping up with housing-related expenses and their household’s ability to afford utilities and school supplies. These findings align with rising inflation and recent heat waves, which are increasing financial strain on families already struggling to make ends meet.

Latino respondents were also more likely than non-Latino respondents to report several financial trade-offs to cover housing expenses and utility bills during periods of extreme heat. These strategies include cutting back on food, drawing on savings, delaying financial goals, working additional hours to afford housing-related expenses, and using savings to cover energy bills during the summer months.

Overall, the findings show that affordability issues extend beyond rising prices of goods and services. For many households, financial pressures are shaping everyday decisions about food, bills, savings, and overall quality of living. As policymakers develop plans to address housing and energy costs driven by rising temperatures, understanding how these pressures vary across communities will be important for assessing their potential impacts on California households.

Appendix

Question Wording

1. How concerned are you about your household’s ability to afford back-to-school expenses this year, including school supplies, clothing, fees, transportation, and other school-related costs?
   1. Very concerned
   2. Somewhat concerned
   3. Not too concerned
   4. Not at all concerned
   5. Not applicable – no children in school
   6. No opinion
2. How worried are you about your household’s ability to keep up with housing-related expenses over the next six months, including rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and insurance?
   1. Very worried
   2. Somewhat worried
   3. Not too worried
   4. Not at all worried
   5. No opinion
3. In the past 12 months, have you or your household done any of the following to keep up with housing-related expenses? Please select as many as apply.
   1. Cut back spending on food or groceries
   2. Dipped into savings
   3. Take on additional debt
   4. Delayed medical care
   5. Delayed major purchases or financial goals
   6. Worked additional hours or taken extra hours
   7. None of the above
4. How worried are you about your household’s ability to afford electricity or cooling costs during periods of extreme heat this summer?
   1. Very worried
   2. Somewhat worried
   3. Not too worried
   4. Not at all worried
   5. No opinion
5. During periods of extreme heat this summer, have you or your household done any of the following to lower your energy or utilities costs? Please select as many as apply.
   1. Limited your use of air conditioning
   2. Used fans instead of air conditioning
   3. Spent more time in public places to stay cool
   4. Kept parts of your home warmer than preferred
   5. Dipped into savings to pay utility bills
   6. Reduced spending in other areas to pay utility bills
   7. None of the above

End Notes

¹ Alex Bentz, California Housing Affordability Tracker (2nd Quarter 2026), EconTax Blog Post, Legislative Analyst’s Office, July 20, 2026, available online.

² USAFacts, How Much Do Households in California Spend on Rent?, USAFacts Data Report, June 5, 2026, available online.

³ Food & Water Watch, Surging Water Costs Amid the US Affordability Crisis: An Analysis of Water Billing Data for the 500 Largest Community Water Systems, Research Report, October 6, 2026, available online.

⁴ Legislative Analyst’s Office, Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California, LAO Report No. 4950, Gabriel Petek, January 7, 2025, available online.

⁵ Bernadette Del Chiaro, “California’s Rising Heat and Soaring Utility Bills Make Vital Cooling Unaffordable for Many,” Environmental Working Group, August 19, 2026, available online.

⁶ Chhandara Pech, Silvia R. González, Paul M. Ong, Rosario Majano, and Arturo Vargas Bustamante, Gasoline Costs and Affordability Pressures in California: Impacts on Latino Households, Research Brief, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, April 23, 2026, available online.

⁷ Ibid.

⁸ Latino neighborhoods are defined as census tracts where more than 70% of residents identify as Latino. Similarly, non-Latino white neighborhoods are defined as census tracts where more than 70% of residents identify as non-Latine white. Extreme heat days are defined as days where the temperature is at or above 90°F. For more details, see Rosario Majano, Samantha Alejandre, Julia Silver, Chhandara Pech, Paul M. Ong, Silvia R. González, and Arturo Vargas Bustamante, “Climate Change and Health Disparities in California’s Latino Neighborhoods,” (Los Angeles: UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative, 2025), available online.

Acknowledgments

This brief was made possible with the generous support of the James Irvine Foundation. The authors thank Dr. Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas for providing valuable and insightful feedback.

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute acknowledges the Gabrielino and Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and Southern Channel Islands) and that their displacement has enabled UCLA’s flourishing. As a land grant institution, we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), Ahiihirom (Elders), and Eyoohiinken (our relatives nations) past, present, and emerging.

Disclaimer

The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the University of California, Los Angeles as a whole. The authors alone are responsible for the content of this report.

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