1st Advantage MortgageAmador County households have a median income of $88,044 and median rent of $1,421 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's California license first.
On this page
- Amador County at a glance
- Household income in Amador County
- What it costs to live in Amador County
- Jobs and commutes in Amador County
- Amador County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Amador County
- What a median Amador County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Amador County borrowers
- More Amador County figures
- Checklist for Amador County applicants
- Lender oversight for Amador County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Amador County at a glance
Roughly 41,428 residents live in Amador County, California, 46th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 595 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 70 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Amador County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 19 Census places inside Amador County, Ione leads by population with about 9,156; 5 of the 19 are incorporated.
Household income in Amador County
Amador County households have a median income of $88,044 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 28th of 58 in California.
| Household income | Amador County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.3% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.5% | -10.0 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. 8.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). For a borrower in Amador County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Amador County
Renters in Amador County pay a median of $1,421 a month, 30% below the California figure of $2,036. By the Census definition, 46% of Amador County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $449,800, a typical Amador County house costs 5.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Median construction year: 1984.
| Home costs | Amador County | California | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,421/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $449,800 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 38% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Amador County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Jobs and commutes in Amador County
The biggest employer of Amador County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 14% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (13%). Public administration stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Amador County. 28% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Sector | Amador County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 13.5% | -8.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.9% | +3.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.5% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 10.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Amador County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Amador County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Amador County's, from 18 to 48 miles away. Income ranges from $77,404 in Tuolumne County to $115,998 in Placer County; 4 of these neighbors top Amador County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amador County | - | $88,044 | $1,421/mo | 80% |
| Calaveras County, CA | 18 mi | $78,647 | $1,625/mo | 84% |
| El Dorado County, CA | 25 mi | $108,845 | $1,715/mo | 77% |
| Sacramento County, CA | 37 mi | $92,175 | $1,790/mo | 59% |
| Placer County, CA | 43 mi | $115,998 | $2,069/mo | 75% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 47 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| Alpine County, CA | 48 mi | $105,521 | n/a | 78% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Amador County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 19 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 80% of Amador County residents live in one of the 19. Incomes vary by place: $156,250 at the median in Camanche Village, $70,239 in Jackson. Rent is cheapest in Pioneer ($1,205) and steepest in Buckhorn ($2,220). Live in one of these Amador County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ione | city | 9,156 | $91,495 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Jackson | city | 5,048 | $70,239 | $1,429 | 9 mi |
| Buckhorn | CDP | 3,504 | $90,045 | $2,220 | 7 mi |
| Pine Grove | CDP | 3,040 | $89,311 | $1,253 | 3 mi |
| Sutter Creek | city | 2,702 | $88,478 | $1,572 | 9 mi |
| Camanche Village | CDP | 2,291 | $156,250 | $1,782 | 22 mi |
| Pioneer | CDP | 1,155 | $75,714 | $1,205 | 4 mi |
| Red Corral | CDP | 1,096 | $85,581 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Plymouth | city | 1,056 | $92,500 | $1,330 | 11 mi |
| Amador Pines | CDP | 890 | $83,958 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Camanche North Shore | CDP | 824 | $78,333 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Lockwood | CDP | 730 | $134,764 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Buena Vista | CDP | 493 | $72,031 | n/a | 17 mi |
| River Pines | CDP | 374 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
What a median Amador County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Amador County's medians:
- $88,044 a year is $7,337 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,421 uses 19%
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,734 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Amador County's.
What the numbers mean for Amador County borrowers
A few patterns in the Amador County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 28% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 42% of Amador County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Amador County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Amador County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, against 6.6% for California.
| Residents | Amador County | California | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 18.9% |
Checklist for Amador County applicants
Quick steps for Amador County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Amador County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Amador County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Amador County?
$88,044 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 28th of 58 in the state.
How does Amador County rent compare with California?
$1,421 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 30% below.
Should Amador County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Amador County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Amador County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 19 Census places: Ione, Jackson, Buckhorn, Pine Grove, Sutter Creek.
Can Amador County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every California county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.