Population 7,401 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alta Sierra
Household size in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Alta Sierra has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has edged down from 2.45 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.7 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Alta Sierra skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 47.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 52 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.3% of households in Alta Sierra, well below the national share of 11.6%. Alta Sierra has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alta Sierra
Renters in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.2% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Alta Sierra is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly four in ten owners (37.7%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Alta Sierra: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Alta Sierra are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in California overall, where the median home dates to 1976.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,323 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,490 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,982 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,927 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$604 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Alta Sierra costs $1,927 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California as a whole ($2,229). Rent has climbed $604 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 23.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alta Sierra
Bachelor's degrees in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Alta Sierra (38.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.9 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.4% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.1% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Alta Sierra: 96.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Alta Sierra has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of California cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alta Sierra
| Period | Alta Sierra | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Alta Sierra than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Only 39 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alta Sierra compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Sierra | 2.41 | 49.7 | 6.3% | 13.2% | 5.7% | 1983 | $1,927 | 38.2% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| Grass Valley | 2.35 | 50.2 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 9.4% | 1978 | $1,644 | 32.8% | 94.0% | 7.0% |
| Shady Glen | 2.40 | 51.1 | 6.2% | 17.3% | 7.2% | 1984 | $1,428 | 33.9% | 95.2% | 9.0% |
| Colfax | 2.55 | 47.0 | 6.7% | 23.8% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,614 | 29.1% | 93.8% | 7.8% |
| Weimar | 2.44 | 49.8 | 5.3% | 24.6% | 4.3% | 1985 | $1,626 | 22.7% | 96.1% | 13.4% |
| Rough And Ready | 2.26 | 60.8 | 4.8% | 9.1% | 7.0% | 1986 | $1,630 | 38.7% | 94.7% | 2.9% |
| Meadow Vista | 2.53 | 57.9 | 3.7% | 9.5% | 10.3% | 1980 | $2,113 | 41.4% | 96.1% | 2.8% |
| Magra | 2.51 | 50.7 | 6.7% | 14.0% | 15.6% | 1989 | $1,752 | 18.6% | 77.5% | 5.4% |
| Heather Glen | 2.79 | 46.4 | 4.5% | 15.0% | 4.8% | 1980 | $1,578 | 31.8% | 92.8% | 3.6% |
| Penn Valley | 2.44 | 53.4 | 3.8% | 15.1% | 11.2% | 1984 | $2,140 | 37.3% | 94.6% | 1.5% |
| Nevada City | 2.36 | 53.3 | 7.6% | 20.1% | 17.5% | 1980 | $1,741 | 44.8% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Roseland, NJ · San Martin, CA · Eureka, IL · Montpelier, VA · Lake Carmel, NY · Walls, MS · Hodgenville, KY · Lagrangeville, NY · Montague, MI · Hawthorne, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alta Sierra. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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