Nevada County, California Demographics 2026
Nevada County, California has a population of 102,481, the 36th most populous county in California. The median household income is $89,882 and the median home value is $621,800. The poverty rate is 11.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Nevada County Quick Facts
How Nevada County 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 | 102,452 | 102,481 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $84,905 | $89,882 | +5.9% |
| Median home value | $602,800 | $621,800 | +3.2% |
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+)
Cities & Places 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 |
| Alta Sierra (Nevada County) | 7,361 | $105,603 | 6.3% | $563,700 |
| 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 |
| Floriston | 26 | N/A | 0.0% | $765,600 |
Explore California Rankings
Population Overview
Nevada County is located in California with a total population of 102,481. It is the 36th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Nevada County is 50.1 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 12.1% 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 County is $89,882. This is 9% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 11% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $621,800. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 75.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Nevada County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.7% 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 (10.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
41.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% 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 94.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Nevada County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Nevada County, California?
Nevada County has a population of 102,481, making it the 36th most populous county in California.
What is the median income in Nevada County?
The median household income in Nevada County is $89,882 with a poverty rate of 11.0%.
How many cities are in Nevada County, California?
Nevada County contains 12 Census-designated places.