The Town FilesNevada City, California
City in Nevada County · population 3,152 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $677,400
- Household income
- $75,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 52.8
Nevada City is a city of 3,152 people in Nevada County, California. The median home is worth $677,400, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks hipper than 99% of California towns, better for retirees than 94% of California towns, better for cycling than 92% of California towns.
- #4 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in California
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in California With the Oldest Homes
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- #31 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #36 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
How Nevada City 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 Nevada City is worth $677,400, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 8.9 times the median household income of $75,792, which is more affordable than 16% of California towns. Median rent is $1,411 a month. 54.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nevada City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $677,400 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,411 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $75,792 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.9× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 54.3% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.6% | — |
Who lives in Nevada City
| People | Nevada City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.9% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.5% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 31.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 93.3% |
Weather in Nevada City
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 35.4°F. About 62.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.5 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Nevada City since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on April 23, 2015.
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 Nevada City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Nevada City
10 public schools with 2,569 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Charter (charter) | K-12 | 806 | 21.2 |
| Nevada City School of the Arts (charter) | K-8 | 460 | 18.4 |
| Seven Hills Intermediate | 4-8 | 431 | 21.6 |
| Deer Creek Elementary | K-3 | 274 | 21.1 |
| Twin Ridges Home Study Charter (charter) | K-8 | 220 | 22.0 |
| Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning (charter) | 9-12 | 197 | 14.1 |
| Grizzly Hill | K-8 | 110 | 22.0 |
| Nevada County Special Education | K-8 | 68 | 6.8 |
| Earle Jamieson Educational Options | 6-12 | 3 | 1.5 |
| Twin Ridges Special Education Preschool | Other | — | — |
Towns near Nevada City
- Grass Valley, CA2.9 mi · 14,016 people · home $482,200
- Lake Wildwood, CA9.0 mi · 5,158 people · home $551,800
- Alta Sierra, CA9.3 mi · 7,204 people · home $563,700
- Lake of the Pines, CA15.3 mi · 4,301 people · home $664,300
- Meadow Vista, CA17.8 mi · 3,263 people · home $640,300
- North Auburn, CA22.9 mi · 13,452 people · home $530,400
- Wheatland, CA24.8 mi · 3,712 people · home $429,200
- Auburn, CA25.3 mi · 13,776 people · home $672,500
Nevada City questions
Is Nevada City, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nevada City scores better for retirees than 94% of California towns and quieter than 79%. 40.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Nevada City?
The median owner-occupied home in Nevada City is valued at $677,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,792, so homes cost about 8.9 times income. Median rent is $1,411 a month.
What is the weather like in Nevada City?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 35.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.3 inches of precipitation a year and 14.5 inches of snow.
Does Nevada City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Nevada City in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)