1st Advantage MortgageColusa County (21,984 residents) has a $75,672 median household income and $1,157 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 Colusa County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Colusa County in brief
- Rent, home values and ownership in Colusa County
- Colusa County against other California counties
- Earnings across Colusa County households
- Colusa County industries and commutes
- Places inside Colusa County
- Colusa County and the counties next door
- Borrowing situations common in Colusa County
- Colusa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Debt-to-income at Colusa County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Colusa County
- A Colusa County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Colusa County
- Frequently asked questions
Colusa County in brief
Roughly 21,984 residents live in Colusa County, California, 50th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Colusa County spans 1,151 square miles; with 21,984 people, that is 19.1 per square mile. Colusa County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Colusa (6,505 people) heads the county's list of 9 Census places, 2 incorporated and 7 census-designated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Colusa County
A typical Colusa County rental runs $1,157 a month including utilities, which is 43% below California. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. Median value $393,400; median income $75,672; ratio 5.2. In Colusa County, 62% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Cost | Colusa County | California figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,157/mo | $2,036/mo | 43% lower |
| Median home value | $393,400 | $734,700 | 46% lower |
| Owners | 62% | 56% | +6.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 55% | -0.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 38% | +0.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 5.1% | 3.5% | +1.5 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Colusa County against other California counties
Where Colusa County lands at the extremes of California's county rankings:
- Colusa County ranks 2nd lowest of 58 California counties for the share of workers who work from home: 5.3%, against 17.2% statewide. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Colusa County sits near the bottom of California at 16%, 6th lowest of 58. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
- Median gross rent: $1,157/mo in Colusa County. Only 6 of 56 California counties are lower. Cheaper housing gives many renters more slack in a budget.
Earnings across Colusa County households
At $75,672, the typical Colusa County household income is 15% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 35 California counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Colusa County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -10.1 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Colusa County counts about 2,503 residents below the poverty line, 11.4% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Colusa County median.
Colusa County industries and commutes
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Colusa County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 16% in education and health care. Colusa County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 21% versus 2% in California. The survey's unemployment rate for Colusa County averages 9.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Colusa County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.6% | +18.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.8% | -6.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.4% | +3.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +1.7 pts |
Self-employed in Colusa County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Places inside Colusa County
18,000 of Colusa County's 21,984 residents live in its 9 Census places (82%); the 9 largest are listed. Williams has the highest median household income on the list ($90,761) and College City the lowest ($67,206), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Colusa ($1,132) and steepest in Maxwell ($1,388). Colusa and every other Colusa County community use this county guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colusa | city | 6,505 | $71,250 | $1,132 | 12 mi |
| Williams | city | 5,585 | $90,761 | $1,184 | 6 mi |
| Arbuckle | CDP | 3,093 | $86,942 | $1,224 | 15 mi |
| Maxwell | CDP | 1,245 | $67,768 | $1,388 | 7 mi |
| College City | CDP | 557 | $67,206 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Princeton | CDP | 365 | $53,750 | $1,195 | 19 mi |
| Grimes | CDP | 280 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Lodoga | CDP | 259 | $63,333 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Stonyford | CDP | 111 | n/a | $286 | 21 mi |
Colusa County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 28 to 48 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Napa County leads the group on income ($111,471), Lake County trails ($60,621), and Colusa County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colusa County | - | $75,672 | $1,157/mo | 62% |
| Lake County, CA | 28 mi | $60,621 | $1,368/mo | 72% |
| Sutter County, CA | 30 mi | $79,704 | $1,439/mo | 61% |
| Glenn County, CA | 31 mi | $67,139 | $1,120/mo | 61% |
| Yolo County, CA | 39 mi | $91,752 | $1,857/mo | 54% |
| Napa County, CA | 47 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
| Butte County, CA | 48 mi | $67,928 | $1,414/mo | 57% |
Borrowing situations common in Colusa County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Colusa County borrowers.
- 19% long commutes. A Colusa County repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Colusa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
In Colusa County, 16% of adults have at least a four-year degree (37% in California). The uninsured rate is 8.0%, against 6.6% for California.
| People and households | Colusa County | Compared with California | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.4% | -20.7 pts | -5.8 pts |
| Work from home | 5.3% | -11.9 pts | -3.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 25.8% | +10.6 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | +3.2 pts | +5.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -2.4 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Median age | 35.9 | -2.0 yrs | -5.6 yrs |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | +1.4 pts | +0.2 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | -0.6 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Commute length | Colusa County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Debt-to-income at Colusa County's medians
Colusa County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $75,672 a year is $6,306 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,157 uses 18%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,113 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Colusa County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Licensing and complaints for Colusa County
Consumer lenders serving Colusa County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Nationally, Colusa County residents can file with the CFPB. The California page has statewide figures to set beside Colusa County's.
A Colusa County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Colusa County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Colusa County
No city in Colusa County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Colusa County?
$75,672 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 36th of 58 in the state.
What is the median rent in Colusa County, CA?
$1,157 a month, utilities included, or $13,884 a year.
Does this page cover Colusa?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Colusa County, such as Williams, Arbuckle, Maxwell.
Is the fit check different in Colusa County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Colusa County check a lender's license?
With the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.