1st Advantage MortgageIn Lassen County, California, the typical household earns $67,403 a year and the typical rent is $1,000. 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
- Who lives in Lassen County
- How Lassen County residents earn a living
- Household income in Lassen County
- Housing costs in Lassen County
- Towns and communities in Lassen County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Lassen County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Lassen County
- A Lassen County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for Lassen County residents
- Four steps for Lassen County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lassen County
Lassen County is home to about 30,356 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 47th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. Land area is 4,541 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (1 incorporated, 15 census-designated); the largest is Susanville, with about 14,177 residents, or 47% of the county.
How Lassen County residents earn a living
Public administration employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 26% locally and 5% for California. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lassen County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 26.4% | +21.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -4.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.5% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Other services | 5.5% | +0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Lassen County
Half of Lassen County households take in less than $67,403 a year and half take in more, 32% below the California median of $99,122. That places it 46th among California's 58 county-level areas.
| Household income | Lassen County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.5% | +7.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +10.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -15.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Lassen County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 14.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.412 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Lassen County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Lassen County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,000 in Lassen County versus $2,036 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $265,300, about 3.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Measure | Lassen County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,000/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $265,300 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Lassen County
16 Census places fall mainly inside Lassen County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 21,165 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $100,132 at the median in Johnstonville, $44,881 in Doyle. No Lassen County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 16.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susanville | city | 14,177 | $61,641 | $902 | 19 mi |
| Janesville | CDP | 2,399 | $78,466 | $1,374 | 29 mi |
| Westwood | CDP | 1,063 | $59,375 | $947 | 35 mi |
| Johnstonville | CDP | 1,039 | $100,132 | $968 | 23 mi |
| Doyle | CDP | 779 | $44,881 | n/a | 54 mi |
| Patton Village | CDP | 473 | $100,972 | $1,175 | 46 mi |
| Spaulding | CDP | 369 | $24,620 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bieber | CDP | 266 | n/a | n/a | 39 mi |
| Herlong | CDP | 211 | $56,875 | $1,069 | 47 mi |
| Clear Creek | CDP | 172 | $51,278 | n/a | 36 mi |
| Stones Landing | CDP | 85 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Litchfield | CDP | 65 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Little Valley | CDP | 60 | $39,306 | n/a | 32 mi |
| Nubieber | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 39 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Washoe County is closest, 50 miles from center to center; the sixth, Butte County, is 89 miles off. Income ranges from $59,455 in Modoc County to $88,096 in Washoe County; 3 of these neighbors top Lassen County's median. The list crosses into Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen County | - | $67,403 | $1,000/mo | 68% |
| Washoe County, NV | 50 mi | $88,096 | $1,608/mo | 60% |
| Plumas County, CA | 51 mi | $66,031 | $1,194/mo | 75% |
| Modoc County, CA | 61 mi | $59,455 | $836/mo | 77% |
| Shasta County, CA | 75 mi | $72,636 | $1,317/mo | 66% |
| Sierra County, CA | 79 mi | $63,355 | n/a | 72% |
| Butte County, CA | 89 mi | $67,928 | $1,414/mo | 57% |
Lassen County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lassen County | All of California | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.0% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.3% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lassen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Lassen County
Based on the Lassen County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Lassen County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
A Lassen County household budget, worked through
Lassen County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $67,403 a year is $5,617 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,000, takes 18% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,022 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,415 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lassen County's.
Who licenses lenders for Lassen County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lassen County resident can confirm its license with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on California: California personal loans.
Four steps for Lassen County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lassen County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lassen County?
$67,403 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 46th of 58 in the state.
How much is rent in Lassen County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,000 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Lassen County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: Susanville, Janesville, Westwood, Johnstonville, Doyle.
Is the fit check different in Lassen County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Lassen County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.