1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of El Dorado County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $108,845. 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
- El Dorado County at a glance
- How El Dorado County ranks in California
- Where El Dorado County households live
- Earnings across El Dorado County households
- How El Dorado County residents earn a living
- Places inside El Dorado County
- How El Dorado County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the El Dorado County median
- Before borrowing in El Dorado County
- People and households in El Dorado County
- Four steps for El Dorado County borrowers
- Lender oversight for El Dorado County
- Other California guides
- Frequently asked questions
El Dorado County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts El Dorado County's population at 192,662; only 28 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. Its 1,708 square miles average 113 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. It is one of the counties that make up the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 15 places in the county (2 incorporated, 13 census-designated); the largest is El Dorado Hills, with about 51,026 residents, or 26% of the county.
How El Dorado County ranks in California
Out of every California county, El Dorado County is most unusual on these measures.
- On households without a vehicle, El Dorado County sits near the bottom of California at 3.6%, 3rd lowest of 58. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- Few California counties match El Dorado County on the ACS unemployment rate: 4.5% here, 6.6% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 58. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- On homeownership, El Dorado County sits near the top of California at 77%, 5th highest of 58. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
Where El Dorado County households live
A typical El Dorado County rental runs $1,715 a month including utilities, which is 16% below California. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 54% in El Dorado County, 55% statewide. Home values center on $679,900, or 6.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median year built is 1983. Against the median U.S. county, El Dorado County rent is 96% above.
| Home costs | El Dorado County | California | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 77% | 56% | +21.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 20% | 7% | +12.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 55% | -1.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,715/mo | $2,036/mo | 16% lower |
| Mobile homes | 5.0% | 3.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Median home value | $679,900 | $734,700 | 7% lower |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 38% | -0.7 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). With rent burdens at 54%, keep any El Dorado County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Earnings across El Dorado County households
El Dorado County households have a median income of $108,845 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 13th of 58 in California.
| Income band | Share in El Dorado County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.0% | -2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.2% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 23.4% | +2.9 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 54% clear $100,000. 8.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.470 (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 El Dorado County median.
How El Dorado County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Relative to California (5%), public administration is 3 points bigger in El Dorado County (7%). 4.5% of El Dorado County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 31% of El Dorado County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 20% need 45 or more. Only 3.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | El Dorado County share | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | -0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +2.7 pts |
Self-employed in El Dorado County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Places inside El Dorado County
The table lists the 14 largest of 15 Census places in El Dorado County, by population. Together all 15 hold about 135,267 people, so roughly 30% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $67,274 in Placerville to $165,349 in El Dorado Hills. Live in one of these El Dorado County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado Hills | CDP | 51,026 | $165,349 | $2,552 | 29 mi |
| South Lake Tahoe | city | 21,269 | $82,002 | $1,606 | 31 mi |
| Cameron Park | CDP | 18,315 | $102,289 | $1,806 | 26 mi |
| Diamond Springs | CDP | 10,927 | $77,219 | $1,682 | 18 mi |
| Placerville | city | 10,762 | $67,274 | $1,234 | 15 mi |
| Pollock Pines | CDP | 6,212 | $74,924 | $1,281 | 4 mi |
| Shingle Springs | CDP | 3,801 | $135,530 | $1,411 | 23 mi |
| Auburn Lake Trails | CDP | 3,284 | $134,007 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Georgetown | CDP | 2,403 | $91,765 | $926 | 18 mi |
| Camino | CDP | 2,079 | $85,341 | $1,934 | 8 mi |
| Meyers | CDP | 1,995 | $96,354 | $2,856 | 28 mi |
| Grizzly Flats | CDP | 1,410 | $92,004 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Tahoma | CDP | 873 | $105,104 | $1,843 | 28 mi |
| Coloma | CDP | 462 | $104,543 | $2,149 | 19 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
How El Dorado County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Placer County at 22 miles out to Carson City at 49. Placer County leads the group on income ($115,998), Carson City trails ($72,355), and El Dorado County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Dorado County | - | $108,845 | $1,715/mo | 77% |
| Placer County, CA | 22 mi | $115,998 | $2,069/mo | 75% |
| Amador County, CA | 25 mi | $88,044 | $1,421/mo | 80% |
| Nevada County, CA | 38 mi | $89,882 | $1,677/mo | 75% |
| Calaveras County, CA | 41 mi | $78,647 | $1,625/mo | 84% |
| Alpine County, CA | 41 mi | $105,521 | n/a | 78% |
| Carson City, NV | 49 mi | $72,355 | $1,248/mo | 62% |
Budget math at the El Dorado County median
Here is the El Dorado County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $9,070 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,715 uses 19%
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,460 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $2,367 a month
If your rent is above $1,715, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in El Dorado County
Where the El Dorado County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Car trouble. For El Dorado County drivers (20% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 46.1 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- 54% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in El Dorado County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in El Dorado County
College graduates make up 40% of the adult population. 3.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | El Dorado County | Compared with California | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | -10.4 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 46.1 | +8.2 yrs | +4.6 yrs |
| Work from home | 22.1% | +4.9 pts | +13.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | -4.0 pts | -5.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | -3.4 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.0% | +2.9 pts | +17.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 3.9% | -2.7 pts | -3.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | -2.1 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Four steps for El Dorado County borrowers
Steps that save money for El Dorado County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A California license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for El Dorado County
Consumer lenders serving El Dorado County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. If a El Dorado County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
Other California guides
Next step up from El Dorado County:
Frequently asked questions
Is $108,845 a good income in El Dorado County?
It is the county median, so half of El Dorado County households earn more and half less; 54% earn $100,000 or more.
What do renters pay in El Dorado County?
$1,715 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in El Dorado County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 77% of El Dorado County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
What are the biggest places in El Dorado County?
By population: El Dorado Hills, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park, Diamond Springs, Placerville. The county has 15 Census places in all.
Can El Dorado 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.