Cost of Living in Sierra 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.
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Sierra County ranks #2,802 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 11%)
Sourced county brief
Sierra County Official GRAPI Lower Than State County Mean
In Sierra County, the official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.4%. This official percentage is 3.3 percentage points below the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. While the median gross rent is not available in the provided dataset, the median renter-household income was estimated at $54,030. The median home value in the county is $331,900, which is $272,212 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,449, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. This report utilizes data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates to establish housing cost benchmarks. 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: Sierra County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.4% of renter household income in Sierra 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
Sierra County does not have both rent and owner-cost estimates needed for a tenure-cost comparison.
Income Needed
A 30% rent-budget illustration cannot be calculated because median gross rent is unavailable.
Regional Context
The unweighted county-mean rent comparison for California is unavailable.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Sierra County
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,478
per month
Owner Cost Burden
27.4%
of gross income
The median home in Sierra County may be a stretch
Median home value is $331,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,650 vs. your max of $1,478.
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
N/A
Data unavailable
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
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
What is the cost of living in Sierra County, California?
What is the median rent in Sierra County?
Is Sierra County affordable?
How does Sierra County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Sierra County?
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Sierra County, California? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Sierra County
Whether you're buying in Sierra County, California, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
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.
CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.