1st Advantage MortgageThe median Yolo County household earns $91,752, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Yolo County
- What it costs to live in Yolo County
- Household income in Yolo County
- How Yolo County residents earn a living
- Yolo County towns compared
- Yolo County and the counties next door
- Who lives in Yolo County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Yolo County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Yolo County
- Steps before you apply in Yolo County
- Licensing and complaints for Yolo County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Yolo County
With an estimated 220,564 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Yolo County ranks 27th of 58 in California for population. Packed into 1,013 square miles, that is close to 218 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metropolitan area. Of the 17 Census places inside Yolo County, Davis leads by population with about 66,978; 4 of the 17 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Yolo County
Renters in Yolo County pay a median of $1,857 a month, 9% below the California figure of $2,036. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. With a median value of $620,700, a typical Yolo County house costs 6.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 54% of Yolo County households own their home and 46% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Housing | Yolo County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,857/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $620,700 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 54% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.2% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 7% | n/a |
For the many renters in Yolo County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Yolo County
The median household income in Yolo County is $91,752; statewide it is $99,122, so Yolo County runs 7% below California as a whole. That places it 25th among California's 58 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Yolo County | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.3% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.3% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.9% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 46% of Yolo County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). A household earning below the $91,752 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Yolo County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Yolo County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Compared with California, the county leans toward education and health care (29% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Yolo County. About 62% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.6% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Yolo County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +6.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.0% | -2.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Yolo County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 17 Census places in Yolo County, by population. Together all 17 hold about 210,023 people, so roughly 5% of residents live outside any named place. El Macero has the highest median household income on the list ($227,500) and University of California-Davis the lowest ($18,631), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,568 in Winters to $2,187 in Davis. Names with links open a city guide. The other 16 places are covered here.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis | city | 66,978 | $90,045 | $2,187 | 12 mi |
| Woodland | city | 61,854 | $90,180 | $1,583 | 8 mi |
| West Sacramento | city | 54,927 | $93,188 | $1,665 | 21 mi |
| University of California-Davis | CDP | 8,696 | $18,631 | $1,678 | 13 mi |
| Winters | city | 7,583 | $122,951 | $1,568 | 11 mi |
| Esparto | CDP | 3,713 | $102,986 | $1,673 | 7 mi |
| Monument Hills | CDP | 1,551 | $218,333 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Knights Landing | CDP | 1,099 | $49,458 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Madison | CDP | 805 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Yolo | CDP | 800 | n/a | $1,803 | 7 mi |
| El Macero | CDP | 796 | $227,500 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Dunnigan | CDP | 537 | $29,193 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Clarksburg | CDP | 288 | n/a | $2,545 | 27 mi |
| Guinda | CDP | 248 | $180,515 | n/a | 19 mi |
Yolo County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 51 miles). Income ranges from $75,672 in Colusa County to $111,471 in Napa County; 3 of these neighbors top Yolo County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yolo County | - | $91,752 | $1,857/mo | 54% |
| Napa County, CA | 26 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
| Sutter County, CA | 27 mi | $79,704 | $1,439/mo | 61% |
| Solano County, CA | 29 mi | $100,401 | $2,163/mo | 63% |
| Sacramento County, CA | 34 mi | $92,175 | $1,790/mo | 59% |
| Colusa County, CA | 39 mi | $75,672 | $1,157/mo | 62% |
| Yuba County, CA | 51 mi | $76,373 | $1,311/mo | 63% |
Who lives in Yolo County, in numbers
45% of Yolo County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.8%, against 6.6% for California.
| People and households | Yolo County | California | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 44.8% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
What the numbers mean for Yolo County borrowers
What the Yolo County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 46% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 59% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Room for a loan payment in Yolo County
How much room does a median Yolo County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $91,752 a year is $7,646 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,857 uses 24%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,431 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,857, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Yolo County
A short checklist for Yolo County borrowers:
- Price the Yolo County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Yolo County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Yolo County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Yolo County, check the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
Related local guides
City guides inside Yolo County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Yolo County household make?
About $91,752 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the California median.
How does Yolo County rent compare with California?
$1,857 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 9% below.
Does this page cover Davis?
Yes, along with the other 16 Census places in Yolo County, such as Woodland, West Sacramento, University of California-Davis.
Will a Yolo County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming California as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Yolo County residents?
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation licenses consumer lenders in California; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.