1st Advantage MortgageMono County households have a median income of $99,415 and median rent of $1,629 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
- Getting oriented in Mono County
- Paychecks and income spread in Mono County
- Work, industries and travel time in Mono County
- What it costs to live in Mono County
- Mono County towns compared
- Mono County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Mono County median
- Borrowing situations common in Mono County
- People and households in Mono County
- Licensing and complaints for Mono County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Mono County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Mono County's population at 13,148; only 54 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. It covers 3,049 square miles of land, or about 4 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mono County is not part of any metropolitan area. Mammoth Lakes is the biggest of its 18 Census places, at roughly 7,214 people (55% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Mono County
Mono County households have a median income of $99,415 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 18th of 58 in California.
| Households earning | Mono County | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.4% | -2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.1% | -2.4 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 49% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.6%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.0%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Mono County
Arts, lodging and food service employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Compared with California, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (29% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Mono County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Mono County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 28.6% | +19.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.5% | -3.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -7.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +1.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Mono County
A typical Mono County rental runs $1,629 a month including utilities, which is 20% below California. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $639,400, a typical Mono County house costs 6.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 65% of homes. The median year built is 1980.
| Housing | Mono County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,629/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $639,400 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 48% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% | 3.5% | n/a |
Mono County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in Mono County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 12,729 people, so roughly 3% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $85,294 in Walker to $134,120 in Lee Vining. This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Lakes | town | 7,214 | $98,056 | $1,645 | 21 mi |
| Crowley Lake | CDP | 1,069 | $115,476 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Lee Vining | CDP | 628 | $134,120 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Walker | CDP | 524 | $85,294 | n/a | 53 mi |
| Chalfant | CDP | 483 | $83,077 | n/a | 39 mi |
| Mono City | CDP | 342 | $109,265 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Swall Meadows | CDP | 335 | $156,917 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Aspen Springs | CDP | 325 | $131,673 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Sunny Slopes | CDP | 323 | $203,698 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Bridgeport | CDP | 303 | $120,850 | $242 | 30 mi |
| Benton | CDP | 292 | $68,027 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Coleville | CDP | 284 | $46,860 | $2,160 | 57 mi |
| Paradise | CDP | 241 | $109,375 | $861 | 33 mi |
| June Lake | CDP | 209 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Mono County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Mono County's, from 48 to 70 miles away. Alpine County leads the group on income ($105,521), Esmeralda County trails ($41,715), and Mono County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Nevada. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Mono County resident follows California rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mono County | - | $99,415 | $1,629/mo | 65% |
| Mineral County, NV | 48 mi | $54,855 | $905/mo | 73% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 60 mi | $77,404 | $1,302/mo | 74% |
| Mariposa County, CA | 61 mi | $68,412 | $1,305/mo | 75% |
| Madera County, CA | 68 mi | $76,627 | $1,390/mo | 67% |
| Esmeralda County, NV | 68 mi | $41,715 | $1,320/mo | 61% |
| Alpine County, CA | 70 mi | $105,521 | n/a | 78% |
Budget math at the Mono County median
Here is the Mono County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $8,285 gross per month ($99,415 / 12)
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,629)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,271 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $2,099 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Mono County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Mono County
Based on the Mono County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 49% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
People and households in Mono County
Degree holders: 32% of adults over 25. 8.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Mono County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.2% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Mono County
Consumer lenders serving Mono County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Mono County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Mono County-area credit union.
- Verify the California license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Mono County earn?
The median is $99,415; 49% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Mono County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,629 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Mono County?
By population: Mammoth Lakes, Crowley Lake, Lee Vining, Walker, Chalfant. The county has 18 Census places in all.
Are Mono 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.
Is there a Mono County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.