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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Sierra County

California · 3,236 residents · 953.168 sq mi
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The short version

Sierra County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,103. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $229,400. With a median age of 53.9, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 34% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 53.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,236
−9%since 2000
from 3,555 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
53.9
+23%since 2000
from 43.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K4K1990201020202024Sierra County
20243K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54%(129)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(146)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.2%(169)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.6%(148)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 242.2%(71)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 348.7%(280)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.4%(368)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.8%(351)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.7%(573)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7420.1%(651)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.4%(272)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(78)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,103
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,827 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,533
+73%since 2000
from $18,815 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade19.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction13.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade7.4%
US avg: 10%
Information6.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$229,400
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,032
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $513 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
74.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.7% in 2000
26.0% rent
Afford Score
4.4
−32%since 2009
from 6.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic80.8%(2,615)
Black0.2%(7)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(377)
Asian0.2%(7)
Other1.4%(46)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7%(202)
Nicaraguan1.5%(44)
Ancestry
German19.3%(560)
English13.1%(379)
Irish11.5%(332)
Italian6.7%(193)
Swiss6%(173)
Welsh2.9%(84)
Polish2.8%(81)
Scottish2.6%(75)
French2.5%(73)
Brazilian2.3%(66)
Portuguese1.7%(48)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1.3%(37)
Hungarian0.9%(26)
Dutch0.8%(22)
Greek0.5%(14)
Danish0.4%(11)
Russian0.4%(11)
Swedish0.3%(9)
Czech0.3%(8)
American0.2%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.6 min
+21%since 2000
from 22.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+14.5 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2011
from 52.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.8%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Female
49.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.4%
−72.0 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
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

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Pop 3,130
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Pop 3,285
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Pop 3,479
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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+73%
Home value$621,800+171%
Population101,911+3190%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Plumas County
Income$66,031+27%
Home value$360,200+57%
Population18,583+500%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Placer County
Income$115,998+123%
Home value$688,100+200%
Population442,081+14170%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SIERRA COUNTY VS
Yuba County
Income$76,373+47%
Home value$412,300+80%
Population88,691+2763%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Sierra County, California?

Sierra County, California has about 3,236 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Sierra County, California earns about $52,103 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 $229,400, and the typical rent is about $1,032 a month.

How educated are people in Sierra County, California?

About 19.4% 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 9.4% 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 82 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 100
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 96118ZIP 95960ZIP 96124ZIP 96126ZIP 96125ZIP 95936ZIP 95944ZIP 95910
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →