1st Advantage MortgageThe median Alpine County household earns $105,521, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Alpine County
- Renting and owning in Alpine County
- How much Alpine County households make
- How Alpine County residents earn a living
- Alpine County towns compared
- Alpine County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Alpine County
- Alpine County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Alpine County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in California
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Alpine County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Alpine County's population at 1,616; only 57 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 738 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Alpine County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (0 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Mesa Vista, with about 445 residents, or 28% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Alpine County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Alpine County
Rent takes 30% or more of income for 9% of renter households here. Home values center on $590,200, or 5.6 years of median income. 78% of Alpine County households own their home and 22% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Cost | Alpine County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $590,200 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 9% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.7% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 72% | 7% | n/a |
Because most Alpine County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How much Alpine County households make
Alpine County households have a median income of $105,521 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 15th of 58 in California.
| Households earning | Alpine County | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 21.4% | -11.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 37.9% | +8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.5% | -3.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 55% of Alpine County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. 10.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.500 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Alpine County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Alpine County residents, by industry, is arts, lodging and food service at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Compared with California, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (22% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home. 5.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Alpine County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 21.9% | +12.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -5.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.4% | +6.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.0% | 0.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Alpine County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Alpine County residents live in one of the 5. Live in one of these Alpine County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Vista | CDP | 445 | $118,125 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Kirkwood | CDP | 218 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Alpine Village | CDP | 210 | $78,750 | $2,150 | 11 mi |
| Bear Valley | CDP | 120 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Markleeville | CDP | 110 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
Alpine County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Alpine County's, from 22 to 48 miles away. El Dorado County leads the group on income ($108,845), Carson City trails ($72,355), and Alpine County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Nevada. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Alpine County resident follows California rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine County | - | $105,521 | n/a | 78% |
| Douglas County, NV | 22 mi | $90,754 | $1,593/mo | 79% |
| Carson City, NV | 37 mi | $72,355 | $1,248/mo | 62% |
| El Dorado County, CA | 41 mi | $108,845 | $1,715/mo | 77% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 42 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| Lyon County, NV | 43 mi | $80,812 | $1,326/mo | 77% |
| Amador County, CA | 48 mi | $88,044 | $1,421/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Alpine County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Alpine County's medians:
- $8,793 a month: gross income for a household at the Alpine County median
- No published median rent here; at 36%, total debt including housing would top out near $3,166
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Alpine County's.
Alpine County households compared
41% of Alpine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Alpine County | All of California | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.7% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Alpine County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Alpine County borrowers.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 55% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Before you sign
Quick steps for Alpine County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in California
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Alpine County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on California: California personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Alpine County earn?
The median is $105,521; 55% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Which towns does the Alpine County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Mesa Vista, Kirkwood, Alpine Village, Bear Valley, Markleeville.
Are Alpine County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Alpine County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.