1st Advantage MortgageAbout 61% of Sutter County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $79,704. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Sutter County
- How much Sutter County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Sutter County
- Sutter County housing compared with California
- The communities that make up Sutter County
- Sutter County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Sutter County's medians
- Sutter County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Sutter County
- Checklist for Sutter County applicants
- California rules that apply in Sutter County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Sutter County
Roughly 98,857 residents live in Sutter County, California, 37th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 603 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 164 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Yuba City, CA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (2 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Yuba City, with about 69,471 residents, or 70% of the county.
How much Sutter County households make
Sutter County households have a median income of $79,704 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 58 in California.
| Yearly household income | Sutter County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.5% | -9.0 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.4% of Sutter County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.464 here. None of these numbers decides a Sutter County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Sutter County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Sutter County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Sutter County averages 7.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). About 75% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Sutter County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -5.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +6.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sutter County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Sutter County housing compared with California
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,439 in Sutter County versus $2,036 statewide. By the Census definition, 53% of Sutter County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $433,500, a typical Sutter County house costs 5.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 61% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1982.
| Housing | Sutter County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,439/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $433,500 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 7% | 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 communities that make up Sutter County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Sutter County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 82,771 people, so roughly 16% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $73,571 in Live Oak to $96,173 in Sutter. Live in one of these Sutter County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City | city | 69,471 | $75,477 | $1,454 | 7 mi |
| Live Oak | city | 9,347 | $73,571 | $1,014 | 17 mi |
| Sutter | CDP | 2,532 | $96,173 | $1,764 | 9 mi |
| Rio Oso | CDP | 437 | $111,250 | $1,625 | 11 mi |
| Meridian | CDP | 319 | $68,333 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Trowbridge | CDP | 243 | $130,000 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Robbins | CDP | 210 | $93,375 | n/a | 12 mi |
| East Nicolaus | CDP | 110 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Nicolaus | CDP | 102 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Sutter County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 25 to 50 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $67,928 in Butte County to $111,471 in Napa County; 3 of these neighbors top Sutter County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutter County | - | $79,704 | $1,439/mo | 61% |
| Yuba County, CA | 25 mi | $76,373 | $1,311/mo | 63% |
| Yolo County, CA | 27 mi | $91,752 | $1,857/mo | 54% |
| Colusa County, CA | 30 mi | $75,672 | $1,157/mo | 62% |
| Butte County, CA | 44 mi | $67,928 | $1,414/mo | 57% |
| Sacramento County, CA | 45 mi | $92,175 | $1,790/mo | 59% |
| Napa County, CA | 50 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
Debt-to-income at Sutter County's medians
Here is the Sutter County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,642 a month: gross income for a household at the Sutter County median
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,439)
- At 35%, room after rent is $886 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,550 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Sutter County's.
Sutter County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Sutter County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.8% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 11.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Sutter County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Sutter County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Sutter County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Sutter County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Checklist for Sutter County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
California rules that apply in Sutter County
Sutter County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Sutter County household make?
About $79,704 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 20% below the California median.
Is Sutter County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,439 against $2,036 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Sutter County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Yuba City, Live Oak, Sutter, Rio Oso, Meridian.
Can Sutter 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.
Is there a Sutter County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In California it is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.