United States › California › Sierra County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Sierra County California · 3,236 residents · 953 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Sierra County is home to 3,236 people in California. The median age is 53.9, about 15 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. That trails the California median by roughly 34%. 2% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 74% of the housing stock.
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 from 43.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 3K 3K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Sierra County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $52,103
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,827 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,815 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 33.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 13.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.9%
Education & health services 1.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$229,400
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $128,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,032
+34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $513 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 70.7% in 2000
26.0% rent
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 6.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.3%(3,210)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 80.8%(2,615)
Hispanic / Latino 11.7%(377)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 85.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 52.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 20.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.3%(36)
Share of the 208 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Sierra County Head to head
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SIERRA COUNTY VS
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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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