1st Advantage MortgageNevada County households have a median income of $89,882 and median rent of $1,677 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Nevada County
- Renting and owning in Nevada County
- Income in Nevada County compared with California
- Employment and commuting in Nevada County
- How Nevada County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Nevada County
- Budget math at the Nevada County median
- What the numbers mean for Nevada County borrowers
- Nevada County households compared
- Checklist for Nevada County applicants
- California rules that apply in Nevada County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Nevada County
Nevada County is home to about 102,481 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 36th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. It covers 958 square miles of land, or about 107 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (3 incorporated, 11 census-designated); the largest is Truckee, with about 17,066 residents, or 17% of the county.
Renting and owning in Nevada County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,677 in Nevada County versus $2,036 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of Nevada County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $621,800, about 6.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1983.
| Nevada County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,677/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $621,800 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 3.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Nevada County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Nevada County compared with California
The median household income in Nevada County is $89,882; statewide it is $99,122, so Nevada County runs 9% below California as a whole. In the state ranking that is 27th of 58.
| Income band | Share in Nevada County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | +3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.7% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.0% | -3.5 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 45% have six-figure incomes. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.485 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Nevada County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Nevada County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 63% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.2% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Nevada County share | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.7% | +1.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Nevada County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Nevada County compares with nearby counties
Placer County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Butte County, is 51 miles off. Income ranges from $63,355 in Sierra County to $115,998 in Placer County; 2 of these neighbors top Nevada County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada County | - | $89,882 | $1,677/mo | 75% |
| Placer County, CA | 16 mi | $115,998 | $2,069/mo | 75% |
| Sierra County, CA | 23 mi | $63,355 | n/a | 72% |
| Yuba County, CA | 31 mi | $76,373 | $1,311/mo | 63% |
| El Dorado County, CA | 38 mi | $108,845 | $1,715/mo | 77% |
| Plumas County, CA | 48 mi | $66,031 | $1,194/mo | 75% |
| Butte County, CA | 51 mi | $67,928 | $1,414/mo | 57% |
Places inside Nevada County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Nevada County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 54,863 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,764 in Grass Valley to $130,462 in Truckee. This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truckee | town | 17,066 | $130,462 | $1,961 | 31 mi |
| Grass Valley | city | 14,113 | $51,764 | $1,458 | 16 mi |
| Alta Sierra | CDP | 7,361 | $105,603 | $2,254 | 19 mi |
| Lake of the Pines | CDP | 5,461 | $121,682 | $2,399 | 24 mi |
| Lake Wildwood | CDP | 4,792 | $85,771 | $2,507 | 23 mi |
| Nevada City | city | 3,172 | $75,792 | $1,411 | 14 mi |
| Penn Valley | CDP | 1,678 | $64,737 | $1,230 | 24 mi |
| Rough and Ready | CDP | 736 | $102,725 | $1,214 | 20 mi |
| North San Juan | CDP | 179 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Soda Springs | CDP | 150 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Washington | CDP | 129 | n/a | $1,328 | 4 mi |
| Floriston | CDP | 26 | n/a | n/a | 41 mi |
| Graniteville | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Kingvale | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
Budget math at the Nevada County median
Here is the Nevada County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $7,490 a month: gross income for a household at the Nevada County median
- Median rent: $1,677, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,544 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,677, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Nevada County borrowers
Where the Nevada County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Retirees. At a median age of 50.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 45% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Nevada County households compared
42% of Nevada County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.3%, against 6.6% for California.
| Measure | Nevada County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.5% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 25.0% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Nevada County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Checklist for Nevada County applicants
Steps that save money for Nevada County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Nevada County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
California rules that apply in Nevada County
Consumer lenders serving Nevada 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Nevada County?
$89,882 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 27th of 58 in the state.
How does Nevada County rent compare with California?
$1,677 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 18% below.
Does this page cover Truckee?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Nevada County, such as Grass Valley, Alta Sierra, Lake of the Pines.
Can Nevada 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Nevada County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.