Population 419,156 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Placer County
Household size in Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 2.76 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.81 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.76 | 2.82 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.75 | 2.83 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Placer County holds 2.75 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in the Sacramento area overall, where it has 2.83 people. Household size has crept up from 2.71 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.6 | 36.7 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.7 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 39.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +2.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Placer County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.6, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 11.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Placer County: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Placer County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California counties.
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 Placer County
Renters in Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 37.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.1% | 39.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 37.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Placer County rent their homes (25.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 28.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the center. The renter share has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 6.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Placer County than nationally: 7.5%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across the Sacramento area. Vacancy is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Placer County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1994, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the northeast. Placer County has the newest homes of any California county.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,330 | $1,199 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,437 | $1,254 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,698 | $1,488 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,246 | $2,018 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$916 | +$818 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Placer County costs $2,246 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $916 a month since 2006–10, up 69%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 33.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Placer County
Bachelor's degrees in Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2% | 30.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.3% | 30.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.4% | 33.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.5% | 37.4% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Placer County (43.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.3 points, mirroring the country. Placer County has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of California counties.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.2% | 87.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.5% | 89.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 89.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Placer County: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points, in line with the national trend. Of California's 58 counties, only two have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Placer County
| Period | Placer County | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 9.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Placer County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Only four of California's 58 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 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).
Placer County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placer County | 2.75 | 43.2 | 8.1% | 25.2% | 7.5% | 1994 | $2,246 | 43.5% | 95.1% | 4.6% |
| El Dorado County | 2.56 | 46.9 | 8.1% | 22.8% | 12.5% | 1986 | $2,071 | 40.9% | 95.3% | 4.7% |
| Alpine County | 3.61 | 39.8 | 8.0% | 21.8% | 72.1% | 1981 | $1,310 | 41.1% | 96.3% | 4.4% |
| Douglas County | 2.34 | 54.4 | 6.4% | 21.2% | 11.5% | 1991 | $1,542 | 31.7% | 94.2% | 3.0% |
| Lake County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 13.1% | 27.8% | 19.9% | 1980 | $1,500 | 17.7% | 86.8% | 11.1% |
| Sevier County | 2.96 | 36.3 | 6.7% | 22.2% | 14.5% | 1978 | $841 | 23.5% | 93.2% | 3.9% |
| Delta County | 2.42 | 48.6 | 8.6% | 22.1% | 11.9% | 1981 | $1,162 | 26.4% | 91.1% | 2.7% |
| Teller County | 2.12 | 50.0 | 5.7% | 19.0% | 11.9% | 1989 | $1,801 | 37.8% | 96.1% | 3.7% |
| El Paso County | 2.59 | 37.1 | 9.4% | 33.8% | 5.6% | 1990 | $1,900 | 42.1% | 95.2% | 5.3% |
| Cheyenne County | 2.16 | 42.8 | 6.7% | 27.4% | 20.6% | 1968 | $922 | 25.8% | 92.4% | 0.4% |
| Wallace County | 2.33 | 46.0 | 6.1% | 25.2% | 16.8% | 1961 | $627 | 24.7% | 93.1% | 1.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Ada County, ID · Santa Barbara County, CA · Rockingham County, NH · Marion County, OR · Marion County, FL · Manatee County, FL · Madison County, AL · Luzerne County, PA · Lucas County, OH · Sarasota County, 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 Placer County. 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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