1st Advantage MortgageIn Mariposa County, California, the typical household earns $68,412 a year and the typical rent is $1,305. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Mariposa County
- Paychecks and income spread in Mariposa County
- How Mariposa County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Mariposa County
- Mariposa County towns compared
- Mariposa County next to its neighbors
- More Mariposa County figures
- What the numbers mean for Mariposa County borrowers
- What a median Mariposa County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Mariposa County
- Lender oversight for Mariposa County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mariposa County
Mariposa County is home to about 17,082 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 53rd most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. It covers 1,449 square miles of land, or about 12 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Mariposa County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Yosemite Valley is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 1,991 people (12% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Mariposa County
Mariposa County households have a median income of $68,412 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 43rd of 58 in California.
| Yearly household income | Mariposa County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +8.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.3% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.0% | -11.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Mariposa County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.0% of Mariposa County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.434 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Mariposa County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Mariposa County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (19%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 19% locally and 9% for California. The survey's unemployment rate for Mariposa County averages 6.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Mariposa County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 18.7% | +9.2 pts |
| Public administration | 12.1% | +7.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.5% | -3.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Mariposa County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Mariposa County
A typical Mariposa County rental runs $1,305 a month including utilities, which is 36% below California. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. Home values center on $387,900, or 5.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%.
| Measure | Mariposa County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,305/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $387,900 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 48% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.4% | 3.5% | n/a |
Because most Mariposa County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Mariposa County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Mariposa County residents live in one of the 16. Lake Don Pedro has the highest median household income on the list ($85,104) and Yosemite Valley the lowest ($34,282), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 16 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Valley | CDP | 1,991 | $34,282 | $2,150 | 22 mi |
| Lake Don Pedro | CDP | 1,308 | $85,104 | $1,750 | 25 mi |
| Mariposa | CDP | 1,137 | $40,772 | $593 | 7 mi |
| Greeley Hill | CDP | 958 | $36,771 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Catheys Valley | CDP | 939 | $81,302 | n/a | 14 mi |
| El Portal | CDP | 505 | $55,847 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bootjack | CDP | 400 | $105,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Bear Valley | CDP | 214 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Midpines | CDP | 160 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
| Wawona | CDP | 125 | $70,353 | $1,133 | 15 mi |
| Mt. Bullion | CDP | 71 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Yosemite West | CDP | 31 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Buck Meadows | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Coulterville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Mariposa County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 27 to 60 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $65,510 in Merced County to $81,468 in Stanislaus County; 5 of these neighbors top Mariposa County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariposa County | - | $68,412 | $1,305/mo | 75% |
| Madera County, CA | 27 mi | $76,627 | $1,390/mo | 67% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 31 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| Merced County, CA | 52 mi | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| Calaveras County, CA | 55 mi | $78,647 | $1,625/mo | 84% |
| Fresno County, CA | 58 mi | $74,201 | $1,392/mo | 56% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 60 mi | $81,468 | $1,623/mo | 61% |
More Mariposa County figures
32% of Mariposa County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Mariposa County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.8% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Mariposa County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 17.2% |
What the numbers mean for Mariposa County borrowers
Based on the Mariposa County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 27% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 51.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Mariposa County budget can carry
How much room does a median Mariposa County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Mariposa County: $5,701
- Less median rent of $1,305, which is 23% of it
- $747: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Mariposa County's.
Steps before you apply in Mariposa County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Mariposa County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Mariposa County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on California: California personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Mariposa County?
$68,412 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 43rd of 58 in the state.
How does Mariposa County rent compare with California?
$1,305 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 36% below.
I own my home in Mariposa County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Mariposa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: Yosemite Valley, Lake Don Pedro, Mariposa, Greeley Hill, Catheys Valley.
Are Mariposa County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.