1st Advantage MortgageThe median Siskiyou County household earns $59,095, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Siskiyou County
- Employment and commuting in Siskiyou County
- How much Siskiyou County households make
- Housing costs in Siskiyou County
- Counties near Siskiyou County
- The communities that make up Siskiyou County
- Debt-to-income at Siskiyou County's medians
- Siskiyou County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Siskiyou County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Siskiyou County
- Steps before you apply in Siskiyou County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Siskiyou County
With an estimated 43,466 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Siskiyou County ranks 45th of 58 in California for population. Land area is 6,279 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Siskiyou County is not part of any metropolitan area. Yreka is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 7,820 people (18% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Siskiyou County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Siskiyou County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Compared with California, the county leans toward education and health care (28% against 22%). The survey's unemployment rate for Siskiyou County averages 7.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Siskiyou County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.5% | +5.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Siskiyou County households make
The median household income in Siskiyou County is $59,095; statewide it is $99,122, so Siskiyou County runs 40% below California as a whole. Only 55 California counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Siskiyou County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +12.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +9.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -7.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -14.8 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.4%, 4 points higher than the state's 12.0%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Siskiyou County median.
Housing costs in Siskiyou County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,091 in Siskiyou County versus $2,036 statewide. By the Census definition, 58% of Siskiyou County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $309,500, about 5.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 69%. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Siskiyou County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,091/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $309,500 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 38% | 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?
Counties near Siskiyou County
Distances run center to center, from Jackson County at 57 miles out to Klamath County at 88. Income ranges from $53,002 in Trinity County to $73,999 in Jackson County; 4 of these neighbors top Siskiyou County's median. The list crosses into Oregon, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siskiyou County | - | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
| Jackson County, OR | 57 mi | $73,999 | $1,358/mo | 66% |
| Shasta County, CA | 63 mi | $72,636 | $1,317/mo | 66% |
| Trinity County, CA | 72 mi | $53,002 | $1,073/mo | 72% |
| Del Norte County, CA | 76 mi | $67,058 | $1,233/mo | 70% |
| Josephine County, OR | 77 mi | $60,098 | $1,194/mo | 72% |
| Klamath County, OR | 88 mi | $58,830 | $991/mo | 69% |
The communities that make up Siskiyou County
The table lists the 14 largest of 21 Census places in Siskiyou County, by population. Together all 21 hold about 25,012 people, so roughly 42% of residents live outside any named place. Lake Shastina has the highest median household income on the list ($80,542) and Weed the lowest ($38,854), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Dorris ($746) and steepest in Mount Shasta ($1,406). This guide covers each of the 21 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yreka | city | 7,820 | $43,982 | $987 | 11 mi |
| Mount Shasta | city | 3,182 | $47,917 | $1,406 | 22 mi |
| Lake Shastina | CDP | 3,001 | $80,542 | $1,238 | 9 mi |
| Weed | city | 2,737 | $38,854 | $788 | 14 mi |
| Montague | city | 1,479 | $59,750 | $833 | 10 mi |
| Dunsmuir | city | 1,407 | $58,281 | $1,093 | 28 mi |
| Tulelake | city | 925 | $47,574 | $852 | 60 mi |
| Dorris | city | 869 | $41,563 | $746 | 41 mi |
| McCloud | CDP | 829 | $48,529 | $989 | 31 mi |
| Etna | city | 642 | $49,063 | $859 | 21 mi |
| Fort Jones | city | 562 | $47,375 | $1,137 | 16 mi |
| Happy Camp | CDP | 539 | $41,375 | $775 | 47 mi |
| Hornbrook | CDP | 268 | $32,222 | $693 | 22 mi |
| Grenada | CDP | 254 | $63,571 | $932 | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Siskiyou County's medians
Siskiyou County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $59,095 a year is $4,925 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,091, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,027: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Siskiyou County households compared
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 6.6% for California.
| Measure | Siskiyou County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.9% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Siskiyou County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
What the numbers mean for Siskiyou County borrowers
A few patterns in the Siskiyou County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Siskiyou County's median age is 47.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Licensing and complaints for Siskiyou County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Siskiyou County borrowers answers to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
Steps before you apply in Siskiyou County
Quick steps for Siskiyou County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Siskiyou County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Siskiyou County?
$59,095 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $99,122 for California. It ranks 56th of 58 in the state.
What do renters pay in Siskiyou County?
$1,091 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Does this page cover Yreka?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Siskiyou County, such as Mount Shasta, Lake Shastina, Weed.
Can Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.