1st Advantage MortgageIn Shasta County, California, the typical household earns $72,636 a year and the typical rent is $1,317. 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
- A quick profile of Shasta County
- Income in Shasta County compared with California
- Shasta County housing compared with California
- The Shasta County job picture
- The counties around Shasta County
- The communities that make up Shasta County
- Shasta County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Shasta County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Shasta County's medians
- Before you sign
- California rules that apply in Shasta County
- More guides for Shasta County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Shasta County
Shasta County is home to about 181,436 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 30th most populous of 58 county-level areas in California. Spread over 3,776 square miles, that works out to roughly 48.1 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Redding, CA metropolitan area. Of the 32 Census places inside Shasta County, Redding leads by population with about 93,409; 3 of the 32 are incorporated.
Income in Shasta County compared with California
At $72,636, the typical Shasta County household income is 11% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 39th of 58.
| Household income | Shasta County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.4% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +8.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | -10.3 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 13.3% of Shasta County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.466 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $72,636 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Shasta County housing compared with California
Renters in Shasta County pay a median of $1,317 a month, 35% below the California figure of $2,036. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. Home values center on $366,400, or 5.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 66% of homes. Median construction year: 1982.
| Shasta County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,317/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $366,400 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.8% | 3.5% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The Shasta County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Public administration stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Shasta County. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. 6.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Shasta County workers | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -4.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +2.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The counties around Shasta County
Distances run center to center, from Tehama County at 45 miles out to Glenn County at 82. None of the six report a higher median household income than Shasta County; Butte County is highest at $67,928 and Trinity County lowest at $53,002.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta County | - | $72,636 | $1,317/mo | 66% |
| Tehama County, CA | 45 mi | $63,784 | $1,184/mo | 67% |
| Trinity County, CA | 57 mi | $53,002 | $1,073/mo | 72% |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 63 mi | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
| Lassen County, CA | 75 mi | $67,403 | $1,000/mo | 68% |
| Butte County, CA | 79 mi | $67,928 | $1,414/mo | 57% |
| Glenn County, CA | 82 mi | $67,139 | $1,120/mo | 61% |
The communities that make up Shasta County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 32 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Shasta County residents live in one of the 32. Millville has the highest median household income on the list ($141,500) and Johnson Park the lowest ($46,086), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Shasta County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding | city | 93,409 | $70,466 | $1,379 | 21 mi |
| Anderson | city | 11,255 | $47,375 | $962 | 25 mi |
| Shasta Lake | city | 10,311 | $67,401 | $1,298 | 19 mi |
| Cottonwood | CDP | 7,408 | $95,577 | $1,391 | 29 mi |
| Happy Valley | CDP | 5,944 | $92,222 | $1,282 | 28 mi |
| Bella Vista | CDP | 4,511 | $90,566 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Palo Cedro | CDP | 3,685 | $120,152 | $1,375 | 17 mi |
| Burney | CDP | 2,668 | $65,969 | $1,110 | 21 mi |
| Shingletown | CDP | 2,164 | $66,635 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Centerville | CDP | 1,954 | $122,500 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Shasta | CDP | 1,387 | $111,250 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Jones Valley | CDP | 1,122 | $82,083 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Johnson Park | CDP | 943 | $46,086 | $1,086 | 24 mi |
| Millville | CDP | 939 | $141,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
Shasta County residents: age, schooling, coverage
24% of Shasta County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Shasta County | California | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.8% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.9% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Shasta County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
What the numbers mean for Shasta County borrowers
Where the Shasta County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Shasta County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Shasta County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Shasta County borrower sees (free reports).
Debt-to-income at Shasta County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Shasta County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Shasta County: $6,053
- Housing at the median rent of $1,317 uses 22%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $862 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Shasta County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
California rules that apply in Shasta County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Shasta County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on California: California personal loans.
More guides for Shasta County
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Shasta County?
$72,636 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 39th of 58 in the state.
What do renters pay in Shasta County?
$1,317 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Which towns does the Shasta County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 32 Census places: Redding, Anderson, Shasta Lake, Cottonwood, Happy Valley.
Is the fit check different in Shasta County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Shasta County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.