Alta, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Alta, California had a total population of 656, the 1164th largest community in California, with a median household income of $96,792, which is 2% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Alta Quick Facts
How Alta Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 740 | 656 | -11.4% |
| Median household income | $94,718 | $96,792 | +2.2% |
| Median home value | $468,200 | $470,000 | +0.4% |
How Alta Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
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+)
Alta Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Placer County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roseville | 155,955 | $119,288 | 5.9% | $661,400 |
| Rocklin | 73,327 | $124,168 | 5.6% | $703,400 |
| Lincoln | 52,956 | $111,990 | 6.9% | $651,000 |
| Granite Bay | 21,673 | $184,606 | 5.1% | $1,135,900 |
| Auburn | 13,768 | $82,674 | 13.0% | $672,500 |
| North Auburn | 13,480 | $71,056 | 11.1% | $530,400 |
| Loomis | 6,853 | $81,487 | 13.5% | $634,500 |
| Meadow Vista | 3,162 | $100,859 | 4.8% | $640,300 |
| Kings Beach | 2,736 | $68,153 | 6.8% | $772,100 |
| Colfax | 2,407 | $72,788 | 13.1% | $434,300 |
Cities Similar to Alta
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Acres | 656 | $87,788 | $246,800 | 9.6% | 1.4% |
| Lytle Creek | 672 | $86,394 | $479,800 | 23.8% | 8.8% |
| Oak Run | 596 | N/A | $341,000 | 11.9% | 43.3% |
| University of California-Merced | 724 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Bend | 593 | N/A | $461,500 | 21.6% | 2.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 656, Alta's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Alta is a small community located in California, within Placer County. The total population is 656. It ranks as the 1164th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Alta is 46.9 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 11.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Alta is $96,792. This is 2% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 20% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $470,000. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x. 92.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 65% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Alta has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (86.7% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.
Education
38.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 99.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Alta, 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.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Alta, California?
Alta, California has a population of 656 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Alta, CA?
The median household income in Alta is $96,792, which is 20% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Alta, CA?
The poverty rate in Alta is 7.3%. This means approximately 48 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Alta, California?
Alta's population is 86.7% White, 0.0% Black, 4.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Alta, CA?
The median home value in Alta is $470,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.9x.
How educated is Alta, California?
38.0% of adults (25+) in Alta hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.