Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California had a total population of 7,361, the 565th largest community in California, with a median household income of $105,603, which is 7% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.3%.
Alta Sierra (Nevada County) Quick Facts
How Alta Sierra (Nevada County) Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,280 | 7,361 | No clear change (+1.1%) |
| Median household income | $105,543 | $105,603 | No clear change (+0.1%) |
| Median home value¹ | $486,991 | $563,700 | +15.8% |
| Median gross rent | $2,273 | $2,254 | No clear change (-0.8%) |
How Alta Sierra (Nevada County) Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 85.2%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 7.6%
- Asian: 1.6%
- Other: 0.3%
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 3.3%
- HS Diploma: 16.5%
- Some College: 30.8%
- Associate's: 10.4%
- Bachelor's: 24.4%
- Graduate+: 14.6%
Alta Sierra (Nevada County) Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Nevada County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truckee | 17,066 | $130,462 | 8.9% | $947,900 |
| Grass Valley | 14,113 | $51,764 | 22.1% | $482,200 |
| Lake of the Pines | 5,461 | $121,682 | 8.5% | $664,300 |
| Lake Wildwood | 4,792 | $85,771 | 8.2% | $551,800 |
| Nevada City | 3,172 | $75,792 | 8.9% | $677,400 |
| Penn Valley | 1,678 | $64,737 | 9.3% | $500,700 |
| Rough and Ready | 736 | $102,725 | 1.2% | $691,500 |
| North San Juan | 179 | N/A | 50.8% | $549,600 |
| Soda Springs | 150 | N/A | 15.3% | $840,000 |
| Washington | 129 | N/A | 23.3% | $323,900 |
Cities Similar to Alta Sierra (Nevada County)
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyes Hot Springs | 7,247 | $101,288 | $783,300 | 28.8% | 11.6% |
| Cotati | 7,489 | $110,750 | $746,800 | 37.6% | 8.2% |
| Cottonwood (Shasta County) | 7,408 | $95,577 | $363,000 | 15.1% | 8.7% |
| Mammoth Lakes | 7,214 | $98,056 | $866,700 | 24.2% | 6.1% |
| California Polytechnic State University | 7,915 | N/A | $564,700 | 77.5% | 7.5% |
Population Overview
Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is a small city located in California, within Nevada County. The total population is 7,361. It ranks as the 565th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is 55.0 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is $105,603. This is 7% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 31% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.3%. This is 48% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $563,700. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 87.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 56% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Alta Sierra (Nevada County) has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.2% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
39.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California?
Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California has a population of 7,361 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Alta Sierra (Nevada County), CA?
The median household income in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is $105,603, which is 31% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Alta Sierra (Nevada County), CA?
The poverty rate in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is 6.3%. This means approximately 458 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California?
Alta Sierra (Nevada County)'s population is 85.2% White, 0.0% Black, 7.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Alta Sierra (Nevada County), CA?
The median home value in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is $563,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x.
How educated is Alta Sierra (Nevada County), California?
39.0% of adults (25+) in Alta Sierra (Nevada County) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.