Nevada City, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Nevada City is a small community located in California, within Nevada County. The total population is 3,172. It ranks as the 778th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nevada City is 52.8 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 13.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nevada City is $75,792. This is 24% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 26% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Nevada City, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $677,400. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 54.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nevada City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.8% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

49.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 95.8%. Notably, 17.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Nevada City, 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.