The Town FilesAlta Sierra, California
Community in Nevada County · population 7,204 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $563,700
- Household income
- $105,603
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 55.0
Alta Sierra is a community of 7,204 people in Nevada County, California. The median home is worth $563,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for families than 92% of California towns, better for retirees than 85% of California towns, quieter than 77% of California towns.
How Alta Sierra ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alta Sierra is worth $563,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $105,603, which is more affordable than 71% of California towns. Median rent is $2,254 a month. 87.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alta Sierra | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $563,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,254 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $105,603 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Alta Sierra
| People | Alta Sierra | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.0% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 27.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 93.3% |
Weather in Alta Sierra
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.6 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Alta Sierra since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 22, 2012 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 22, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on October 1, 1972.
Severe weather in Nevada County since 1996
Nevada County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 24, 2021 | Fire | DR-4610: Wildfires |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Nevada County
Nevada County had 35,000 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,734 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Alta Sierra itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Alta Sierra
- Lake of the Pines, CA6.1 mi · 4,301 people · home $664,300
- Grass Valley, CA6.5 mi · 14,016 people · home $482,200
- Meadow Vista, CA8.6 mi · 3,263 people · home $640,300
- Nevada City, CA9.3 mi · 3,152 people · home $677,400
- Lake Wildwood, CA10.9 mi · 5,158 people · home $551,800
- North Auburn, CA13.6 mi · 13,452 people · home $530,400
- Auburn, CA16.0 mi · 13,776 people · home $672,500
- Auburn Lake Trails, CA17.0 mi · 3,388 people · home $560,300
Alta Sierra questions
Is Alta Sierra, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alta Sierra scores better for retirees than 85% of California towns and quieter than 77%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.0).
How much does a house cost in Alta Sierra?
The median owner-occupied home in Alta Sierra is valued at $563,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,603, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $2,254 a month.
What is the weather like in Alta Sierra?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.6 inches of snow.
Does Alta Sierra get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Alta Sierra since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 22, 2012. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)