CensusEasy
COUNTY

Sierra County

California · 3,098 residents (2025 est.) · 953.168 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#20Lowest poverty rateof 3,1444.4%#69Oldest by median ageof 3,14454.7
The short version

Sierra County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,355. Population has fallen 23% since 2000, a loss of 809 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $331,900. With a median age of 54.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Poverty is rare here, at 4.4% of residents. Households here earn about 36% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 54.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,746
−23%since 2000
from 3,555 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 3 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
54.7
+25%since 2000
from 43.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,098 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Sierra County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 50%(0)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 91.6%(45)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.8%(297)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 199.8%(268)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.5%(40)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 341%(27)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(311)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.4%(396)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.5%(399)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7419.8%(544)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8413.5%(370)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(49)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,355
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,827 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,843
+101%since 2000
from $18,815 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.2%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 33.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.4%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.434
+12%since 2010
from 0.389 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction10%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance9.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services4%
US avg: 0.9%
Information3.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$331,900
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Owner-occupied
72.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 70.7% in 2000
27.9% rent
Vacancy rate
42.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.6%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.2
−19%since 2009
from 6.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
7
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Sierra County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(3,210)
Black0.2%(6)
Hispanic / Latino6%(213)
Asian0.1%(5)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86%(2,362)
Black0.3%(8)
Hispanic / Latino11%(301)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.7%(75)
Diversity Score
31
−1%since 2009
from 31 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican10.3%(283)
Spaniard0.3%(9)
Salvadoran0.3%(7)
Ancestry
German13%(358)
Irish12%(329)
English9.9%(272)
American4.5%(124)
Italian2.9%(79)
Scottish2.3%(62)
French1.6%(45)
Norwegian1.5%(40)
Hungarian1.4%(39)
Swedish1.3%(35)
Dutch1.1%(29)
Finnish0.9%(26)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.6%(16)
Welsh0.6%(16)
Polish0.5%(14)
Romanian0.3%(9)
British0.2%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.8%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+7%since 2000
from 22.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
16.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 52.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
27.8%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
51.7%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.6%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Female
53.4%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.6%
−45.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.7%
−65.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.5%
+10.5 ptssince 2017
from 69.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 90.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 8.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married17.1%(204)
Married55.8%(664)
Widowed8.1%(97)
Divorced19%(226)
Women 15+
Never married15.1%(183)
Married55%(667)
Widowed14%(170)
Divorced15.9%(193)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Sierra County

Traverse County
Pop 3,130
Osborne County
Pop 3,285
Aleutians East
Pop 3,479
Rush County
Pop 2,845
Places similar to Sierra County
Head to head

Compare Sierra County to nearby counties

SIERRA COUNTY VS
Nevada County
Income$89,882+42%
Home value$621,800+87%
Population101,911+3190%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Plumas County
Income$66,031+4%
Home value$360,200+9%
Population18,583+500%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Placer County
Income$115,998+83%
Home value$688,100+107%
Population442,081+14170%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Yuba County
Income$76,373+21%
Home value$412,300+24%
Population88,691+2763%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sierra County, California?

Sierra County, California has about 2,746 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Sierra County, California?

The typical household in Sierra County, California earns about $63,355 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Sierra County, California expensive?

In Sierra County, California, the median home is worth about $331,900.

How educated are people in Sierra County, California?

About 25.8% of adults age 25 and over in Sierra County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Sierra County, California?

About 4.4% of people in Sierra County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Sierra County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Sierra County, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 572 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 100
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 96118ZIP 95960ZIP 96124ZIP 96126ZIP 96125ZIP 95936ZIP 95944ZIP 95910
Up the hierarchy
All counties in California
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →