Sierra County, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,642 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2.7 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.90% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 57.6 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,206 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sierra County declined by 16.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 2,731 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sierra County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,999 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.50% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 12.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sierra County is about 38% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $267,567 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,180 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.3% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sierra County is about 18.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,180 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sierra County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 169 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.3 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 40.7 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 169 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,253 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,655 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 389 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
California:
Inyo County (11.2 min), Del Norte County (11.7 min), Modoc County (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Contra Costa County (31.2 min), San Benito County (31.0 min), Alpine County (30.4 min).
The average commute time in Sierra County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Sierra County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.18 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
California:
Marin County (0.5), San Francisco County (0.4), Santa Clara County (0.4).
Lowest:
Colusa County (0.2), Merced County (0.2), Glenn County (0.2).
Health
Sierra County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Sierra County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.9 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.4% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
California:
San Francisco County (0.8), San Mateo County (0.8), Santa Clara County (0.8).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.8), Imperial County (0.8), Tulare County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sierra County, California.
What is the population of Sierra County, California?
The population of Sierra County, California is 2,642, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sierra County, California?
The population density of Sierra County, California is 2.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sierra County, California?
The median household income in Sierra County, California is $59,999, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sierra County, California?
The median home price in Sierra County, California is $267,567, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sierra County, California?
The unemployment rate in Sierra County, California is 12.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.