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CITY

Grass Valley

California · 14,035 residents (2025 est.) · 5.996 sq mi
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The short version

Grass Valley has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,764. Population has grown 29% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $482,200. With a median age of 49.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. The poverty rate of 22.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 48% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,113
+29%since 2000
from 10,922 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,354 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 1,822 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
49.6
+26%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,035 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K10K12K13K15K1990201020202024Grass Valley
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,764
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,182 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,640
+105%since 2000
from $16,877 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.1%
+15.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.472
−3%since 2010
from 0.486 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$482,200
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $142,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,458
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $650 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
40.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 44.0% in 2000
59.8% rent
Vacancy rate
7.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
48.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
62.2%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
9.3
+85%since 2000
from 5.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Grass Valley on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(9,628)
Black0.3%(29)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(717)
Asian1.1%(115)
Other0%
Diversity Score19.1%(2,084)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.2%(11,317)
Black0.4%(56)
Hispanic / Latino8.6%(1,220)
Asian1.1%(151)
Other9.7%(1,369)
Diversity Score42.5%(5,997)
Diversity Score
42
+123%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
32.8%
+15.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.9%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.9 min
+21%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 66.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.2%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.6%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 54.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.0%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.8%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
Female
54.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.2%
−35.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
26.4%
+5.6 ptssince 2012
from 20.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−79.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.9%
+17.4 ptssince 2017
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 90.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 6.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Grass Valley to nearby cities

GRASS VALLEY VS
North Auburn
Income$71,056+37%
Home value$530,400+10%
Population13,480−4%
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GRASS VALLEY VS
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Income$82,674+60%
Home value$672,500+39%
Population13,847−1%
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GRASS VALLEY VS
Linda
Income$72,776+41%
Home value$371,700−23%
Population23,871+70%
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GRASS VALLEY VS
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Income$111,990+116%
Home value$651,000+35%
Population57,367+309%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Grass Valley, California?

Grass Valley, California has about 14,113 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Grass Valley, California?

The typical household in Grass Valley, California earns about $51,764 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Grass Valley, California expensive?

In Grass Valley, California, the median home is worth about $482,200, and the typical rent is about $1,458 a month.

How educated are people in Grass Valley, California?

About 32.8% of adults age 25 and over in Grass Valley, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Grass Valley, California?

About 22.1% of people in Grass Valley, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Grass Valley, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Grass Valley, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,065 residents, a change of about 56 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Grass Valley, California: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy