Population 261 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sierra City
Household size in Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.16 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.38 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Sierra City is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.64, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.4 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 58.5 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.3 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.3, Sierra City is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Sierra City: 0.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Sierra City
Renters in Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +29.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Sierra City than nationally: 43.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of California. Just over a third of owners (34.9%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.3% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 65.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.6% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 54.6% of the housing in Sierra City, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +6 |
Sierra City is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $735 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,169 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,014 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,205 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,470 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Sierra City pays $2,205 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. The picture is much the same across California. Rent takes 28.3% of the typical renter's income, just 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 Sierra City
Bachelor's degrees in Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Sierra City (28.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.6% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.8% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sierra City is close to the national rate: 89.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%).
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 Sierra City
| Period | Sierra City | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.0%, unemployment in Sierra City is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Sierra City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra City | 2.26 | 52.3 | 0.4% | 43.0% | 54.6% | 1965 | $2,205 | 28.5% | 89.8% | 6.0% |
| Downieville | 2.54 | 55.4 | 0.4% | 38.3% | 55.2% | 1961 | $2,082 | 24.3% | 94.6% | 11.2% |
| Sattley | 2.27 | 54.2 | 0.6% | 36.2% | 51.1% | 1968 | $2,178 | 26.8% | 91.1% | 10.5% |
| Calpine | 2.52 | 56.4 | 0.6% | 33.6% | 52.7% | 1964 | $2,077 | 23.6% | 95.0% | 13.9% |
| Clio | 2.19 | 57.1 | 15.7% | 18.5% | 69.8% | 1986 | $2,052 | 34.4% | 97.6% | 7.5% |
| Alleghany | 2.02 | 50.8 | 1.3% | 42.0% | 56.2% | 1970 | $2,176 | 31.8% | 86.6% | 1.6% |
| C-Road | 2.33 | 47.0 | 20.8% | 28.7% | 68.6% | 1987 | $2,123 | 44.8% | 95.6% | 14.2% |
| Sierraville | 2.25 | 66.2 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 27.3% | 1985 | $2,036 | 17.0% | 98.7% | 39.9% |
| Graeagle | 2.17 | 59.7 | 14.9% | 13.7% | 70.8% | 1987 | $2,065 | 31.0% | 98.0% | 5.6% |
| Blairsden | 2.33 | 47.0 | 20.8% | 28.7% | 68.6% | 1987 | $2,123 | 44.8% | 95.6% | 14.2% |
| Goodyears Bar | 2.42 | 54.0 | 0.4% | 40.5% | 54.9% | 1963 | $1,945 | 26.2% | 92.4% | 8.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Brokensword, OH · Voorhies, IA · Volga, WV · Utica, MO · Cactus Flat, AZ · Buttonwood, PA · Butteville, OR · Butte Valley, CA · Butte City, ID · Burr Oak, IN
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 Sierra City. 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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