Cost of Living in Plumas County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Plumas County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Plumas County ranks #2,536 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
Plumas County Official GRAPI Lower Than California Unweighted County Mean
Official GRAPI in Plumas County is 26.4%. This figure is 5.3 percentage points below the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,194, while the state unweighted mean was $1,691. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $360,200, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $604,112. Selected monthly owner costs were $1,132, compared to the state unweighted mean of $1,881. The median renter-household income was recorded at $51,411. This summary provides a point-in-time assessment using the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Plumas County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.4% of renter household income in Plumas County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,194 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,132. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $47,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Plumas County's $1,194 median is 29.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Plumas County
Rent Burden
21.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,541
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.6%
of gross income
The median home in Plumas County may be a stretch
Median home value is $360,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,876 vs. your max of $1,541.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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