1st Advantage MortgageModoc County households have a median income of $59,455 and median rent of $836 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in California before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Modoc County
- What it costs to live in Modoc County
- Income in Modoc County compared with California
- The Modoc County job picture
- How Modoc County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Modoc County
- Modoc County households compared
- Before borrowing in Modoc County
- Debt-to-income at Modoc County's medians
- Lender oversight for Modoc County
- Four steps for Modoc County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Modoc County
Roughly 8,600 residents live in Modoc County, California, 56th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 3,948 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Modoc County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (1 incorporated, 12 census-designated); the largest is Alturas, with about 2,681 residents, or 31% of the county. With so few households sampled, Modoc County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Modoc County
Renters in Modoc County pay a median of $836 a month, 59% below the California figure of $2,036. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 45% of renter households here. With a median value of $224,700, a typical Modoc County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes.
| Measure | Modoc County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $836/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $224,700 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
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).
Income in Modoc County compared with California
The median household income in Modoc County is $59,455; statewide it is $99,122, so Modoc County runs 40% below California as a whole. Only 54 California counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Modoc County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +6.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.3% | +18.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -9.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -15.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Modoc County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.9% of Modoc County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. None of these numbers decides a Modoc County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Modoc County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 13% locally and 2% for California. The survey's unemployment rate for Modoc County averages 7.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Modoc County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Public administration | 13.3% | +8.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.7% | +10.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Modoc County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Modoc County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Lassen County at 61 miles out to Siskiyou County at 94. Income ranges from $58,830 in Klamath County to $88,096 in Washoe County; 4 of these neighbors top Modoc County's median. The list crosses into Nevada, Oregon, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modoc County | - | $59,455 | $836/mo | 77% |
| Lassen County, CA | 61 mi | $67,403 | $1,000/mo | 68% |
| Washoe County, NV | 81 mi | $88,096 | $1,608/mo | 60% |
| Lake County, OR | 84 mi | $62,787 | $878/mo | 67% |
| Klamath County, OR | 89 mi | $58,830 | $991/mo | 69% |
| Shasta County, CA | 90 mi | $72,636 | $1,317/mo | 66% |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 94 mi | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
Towns and communities in Modoc County
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 59% of Modoc County residents live in one of the 13. No Modoc County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alturas | city | 2,681 | $59,896 | $833 | 11 mi |
| Cedarville | CDP | 575 | $52,105 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Newell | CDP | 472 | $36,620 | n/a | 39 mi |
| California Pines | CDP | 427 | $66,328 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Canby | CDP | 259 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Fort Bidwell | CDP | 190 | n/a | $542 | 34 mi |
| Adin | CDP | 153 | $29,375 | n/a | 30 mi |
| Daphnedale Park | CDP | 106 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| New Pine Creek | CDP | 84 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
| Lookout | CDP | 49 | $140,568 | n/a | 35 mi |
| Lake City | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Eagleville | CDP | 33 | $81,250 | n/a | 37 mi |
| Likely | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Modoc County households compared
25% of Modoc County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.0%, against 6.6% for California.
| Residents | Modoc County | California | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.8% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.0% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
Before borrowing in Modoc County
Based on the Modoc County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Modoc County's median age is 47.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Modoc County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Modoc County's medians:
- $4,955 a month: gross income for a household at the Modoc County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($836)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $948 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,294 a month
If your rent is above $836, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Lender oversight for Modoc County
Consumer lenders serving Modoc County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
Four steps for Modoc County borrowers
A short checklist for Modoc County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Modoc County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Modoc County a high-income county?
Its $59,455 median ranks 55th of 58 California counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Modoc County rent compare with California?
$836 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 59% below.
I own my home in Modoc County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Alturas?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in Modoc County, such as Cedarville, Newell, California Pines.
Will a Modoc County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming California as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.