1st Advantage MortgageCalaveras County (46,248 residents) has a $78,647 median household income and $1,625 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Calaveras County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 46,248 residents: Calaveras County basics
- Where Calaveras County works
- Rent, home values and ownership in Calaveras County
- What stands out in Calaveras County
- Earnings across Calaveras County households
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Places inside Calaveras County
- Room for a loan payment in Calaveras County
- Before borrowing in Calaveras County
- Calaveras County households compared
- Verifying a lender from Calaveras County
- Before you sign
- Other California guides
- Frequently asked questions
46,248 residents: Calaveras County basics
Calaveras County is home to about 46,248 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. Calaveras County spans 1,020 square miles; with 46,248 people, that is 45.3 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Calaveras County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Rancho Calaveras is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 7,131 people (15% of the county total).
Where Calaveras County works
Top Calaveras County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 18%; second, construction, 14%. Calaveras County over-indexes on construction: 14% versus 7% in California. The survey's unemployment rate for Calaveras County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). 30% of Calaveras County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 31% need 45 or more. 2.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Calaveras County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -3.8 pts |
| Construction | 13.5% | +6.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Calaveras County
Renters in Calaveras County pay a median of $1,625 a month, 20% below the California figure of $2,036. About 6 in 10 Calaveras County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. With a median value of $457,200, a typical Calaveras County house costs 5.8 times what the median household earns in a year. In Calaveras County, 84% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1986.
| Home costs | Calaveras County | California | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 84% | 56% | +28.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 33% | 7% | +25.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 44% | 38% | +6.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 55% | +4.0 pts |
| Median home value | $457,200 | $734,700 | 38% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,625/mo | $2,036/mo | 20% lower |
With 84% of Calaveras County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What stands out in Calaveras County
Ranked against the other 57 county-level areas in California, these are the Calaveras County figures furthest from the middle.
- Calaveras County ranks the lowest of 58 California counties for households without a vehicle: 2.3%, against 7.1% statewide. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- On homeownership, Calaveras County sits near the top of California at 84%, the highest of 58. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Calaveras County sits near the top of California at 31%, 3rd highest of 58. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
Earnings across Calaveras County households
Half of Calaveras County households take in less than $78,647 a year and half take in more, 21% below the California median of $99,122.
| Households earning | Calaveras County | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.2% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.6% | -6.9 pts |
22% under $35,000 and 39% at $100,000 or more: that is the Calaveras County income split. Poverty rate, Calaveras County: 13.0%; California: 12.0%. None of these numbers decides a Calaveras County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Six nearby counties, 18 to 50 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: El Dorado County, $108,845. Poorest: Tuolumne County, $77,404. Calaveras County: $78,647.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calaveras County | - | $78,647 | $1,625/mo | 84% |
| Amador County, CA | 18 mi | $88,044 | $1,421/mo | 80% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 34 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| El Dorado County, CA | 41 mi | $108,845 | $1,715/mo | 77% |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 43 mi | $92,179 | $1,734/mo | 62% |
| Sacramento County, CA | 46 mi | $92,175 | $1,790/mo | 59% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 50 mi | $81,468 | $1,623/mo | 61% |
Places inside Calaveras County
16 Census places fall mainly inside Calaveras County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 29,726 residents, leaving about 36% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Wallace has the highest median household income on the list ($143,650) and Valley Springs the lowest ($45,786), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in West Point ($987) and steepest in Copperopolis ($2,138). From Rancho Calaveras to the smallest crossroads, Calaveras County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Calaveras | CDP | 7,131 | $88,779 | $1,826 | 17 mi |
| Copperopolis | CDP | 4,285 | $108,457 | $2,138 | 18 mi |
| Angels | city | 3,716 | $62,188 | $1,833 | 8 mi |
| San Andreas | CDP | 2,979 | $51,684 | $1,327 | 6 mi |
| Arnold | CDP | 2,482 | $92,467 | $1,613 | 12 mi |
| Murphys | CDP | 1,951 | $73,571 | $1,523 | 7 mi |
| Forest Meadows | CDP | 1,623 | $89,044 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Mokelumne Hill | CDP | 968 | $88,685 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Valley Springs | CDP | 910 | $45,786 | n/a | 15 mi |
| West Point | CDP | 909 | $70,594 | $987 | 15 mi |
| Wallace | CDP | 714 | $143,650 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Vallecito | CDP | 562 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Rail Road Flat | CDP | 498 | $87,951 | $914 | 10 mi |
| Dorrington | CDP | 406 | $209,022 | n/a | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Room for a loan payment in Calaveras County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Calaveras County's medians:
- $78,647 a year is $6,554 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,625 uses 25%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $669 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,324 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
A household below the $78,647 median has less room than this, often none.
Before borrowing in Calaveras County
- 31% long commutes. A Calaveras County repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Fixed incomes. Calaveras County's median age is 52.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 59% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Calaveras County households compared
24% of Calaveras County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 5.0% of Calaveras County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Calaveras County | Compared with California | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | +14.1 yrs | +10.5 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | -13.2 pts | +1.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | -7.7 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | -4.8 pts | -3.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -2.1 pts | +0.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | -1.6 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Work from home | 15.9% | -1.2 pts | +7.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | +1.0 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 18.9% |
Verifying a lender from Calaveras County
Consumer lenders serving Calaveras County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on California: California personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Other California guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Calaveras County a high-income county?
Its $78,647 median ranks 32nd of 58 California counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Can a Calaveras County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,625 median rent and $6,554 median monthly income, rent alone uses 25%; add other debts before a new payment.
I live in a small Calaveras County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rancho Calaveras, Copperopolis, Angels, San Andreas, Arnold and 11 more.
Is the fit check different in Calaveras County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Calaveras County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.