Sierra County, California Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Sierra County, California has a population of 2,746, the 57th most populous county in California. The median household income is $63,355 and the median home value is $331,900. The poverty rate is 4.4%.

Sierra County Quick Facts

Population 2,74690% MOE ±239

Median Household Income $63,35590% MOE ±$21,034

Median Home Value $331,90090% MOE ±$47,477

Poverty Rate 4.4%90% MOE ±3.6 pts

Unemployment Rate 12.6%90% MOE ±6.4 pts

Median Age 54.7 years90% MOE ±6.7 years

Homeownership Rate 72.1%90% MOE ±8.8 pts

Affordability Ratio 5.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.8%90% MOE ±8.1 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 92.5%

Cities/Places 10

Population 2,746 57th of 58

Median Income $63,355 36% lower than state

Poverty Rate 4.4%

Unemployment 12.6%

How Sierra 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	3,040	2,746	-9.7%
Median household income	$64,179	$63,355	No clear change (-1.3%)
Median home value¹	$284,786	$331,900	No clear change (+16.5%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Sierra

$63,355

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sierra

$331,900

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.7%

$25K-$50K 15.8%

$50K-$100K 37.1%

$100K+ 25.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.6%

$10K-$15K

5.0%

$15K-$20K

7.5%

$20K-$25K

7.5%

$25K-$30K

3.0%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

1.1%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

2.6%

$50K-$60K

12.1%

$60K-$75K

8.4%

$75K-$100K

16.7%

$100K-$125K

8.2%

$125K-$150K

3.6%

$150K-$200K

3.6%

$200K+

10.1%

Employment

12.6% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

52.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.1%

Renter 27.9%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

14.5%

18-34

10.2%

35-54

25.8%

55-74

34.3%

75+

15.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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 Sierra County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Loyalton	748	$65,556	4.7%	$191,800
Sierra Brooks	397	N/A	17.1%	$333,100
Calpine	356	N/A	0.0%	$435,700
Sierraville	351	N/A	0.6%	N/A
Sierra City	250	$95,696	3.2%	$381,700
Downieville	126	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Goodyears Bar	122	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Verdi	70	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Pike	34	N/A	11.8%	N/A
Alleghany	19	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Sierra County is located in California with a total population of 2,746. It is the 57th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sierra County is 54.7 years. This is 44% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 14.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.3% 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 Sierra County is $63,355. This is 36% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.4%. This is 63% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 12.6%. This is 91% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $331,900. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 72.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sierra County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (86.0% 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 (11.0%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

25.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower 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 92.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sierra 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 Sierra County, California?

Sierra County has a population of 2,746, making it the 57th most populous county in California.

What is the median income in Sierra County?

The median household income in Sierra County is $63,355 with a poverty rate of 4.4%.

How many cities are in Sierra County, California?

Sierra County contains 10 Census-designated places.