Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 7,361 residents · Nevada County, California

Alta Sierra , California

In Alta Sierra, a typical home is worth $563,700 and typical rent is $2,254 a month. Compared with all of Nevada County, typical rent is 34% higher, typical household income is 17% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points higher.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $563,700

    9% below the county

    23% below California

    • Alta Sierra
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,254a month

    34% above the county

    11% above California

    • Alta Sierra
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $105,603a year

    17% above the county

    7% above California

    • Alta Sierra
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    87%

    12 points above the county

    31 points above California

    • Alta Sierra
    • Nevada
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Alta Sierra is in Nevada County. The FHA loan limit ($649,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Nevada County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Alta Sierra apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Grass Valley, the typical rent is $1,458: 35% less than in Alta Sierra ($2,254).

  2. The typical rent in Alta Sierra is $2,254 a month, 34% more than in Nevada County as a whole ($1,677).

  3. 87% of households in Alta Sierra own their home, against 75% in Nevada County.

  4. The typical household income in Alta Sierra is $105,603, 17% more than in Nevada County as a whole ($89,882).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Alta Sierra

What homes there are in Alta Sierra, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Alta Sierra, 9 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Nevada County, 8.

Year built

In Alta Sierra, half of the homes were built before 1983; in Nevada County, before 1983.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,791 a month

Nevada County: $2,851 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,060 a month

Nevada County: $997 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Nevada County: 61%

Owning costs about the same in Alta Sierra as in Nevada County: with a mortgage, $2,791 a month; without one, $1,060.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Nevada County, the typical home value in Alta Sierra rose 43% since 2015–2019.

The typical rent in Alta Sierra stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAlta SierraNevada CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.3%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.392.362.842.53
Drive alone 63%63%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate6%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 28%25%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Nevada County, a household in Alta Sierra has 2.39 people on average.

In Alta Sierra, 63% of workers drive alone to work; in Nevada County, 63%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Alta Sierra?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Alta Sierra, worth $563,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in Alta Sierra, which is $105,603 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $197,954 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Nevada County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Alta Sierra. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $19,730 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,619

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$553,489
Total interest
$796,342
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $9,519 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,464 a month

  • Tight

    $2,464 to $3,168 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,168 a month

    Your payment · 52%

Compared with the typical household income in Alta Sierra ($105,603 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,619
Principal & interest$3,750
Property tax$385
Home insurance$235
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$249

You need at least $19,730 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Alta Sierra and Nevada County

Alta Sierra is in Nevada County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Alta Sierra's own numbers

Typical home value
$563,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,254
Typical yearly household income
$105,603
Households that own their home
87%
Effective property tax rate
0.82%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Nevada County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$649,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,885
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+27%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Nevada County.

Everything about Nevada County

Buying

Buying a home in Alta Sierra

A typical home in Alta Sierra is worth $563,700: 9% below the county and 23% below California. With the typical household income in Alta Sierra ($105,603 a year), a typical home costs 5.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Alta Sierra 5.3 years
  • Nevada 6.9 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Nevada County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Nevada County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Nevada County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.9% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +27% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Alta Sierra next to Nevada County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Alta Sierra $563,700
  • Nevada $621,800
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Alta Sierra $2,254
  • Nevada $1,677
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Alta Sierra $105,603
  • Nevada $89,882
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Alta Sierra next to Nevada County and California
Measure Alta Sierra Nevada County California U.S.
Typical home value $563,700 $621,800 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,254 $1,677 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $105,603 $89,882 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 87% 75% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,616 $4,694 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.82% 0.75% 0.7% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Nevada County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alta Sierra

For a typical $563,700 home in Alta Sierra, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Alta Sierra's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,619a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $19,730
    Cash to close
    $36,641
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $249

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,516a month

    Down payment
    $28,185
    Cash to close
    $45,096
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $268

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,675a month

    Down payment
    $112,740
    Cash to close
    $129,651
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,196a month

    Down payment
    $84,555
    Cash to close
    $101,466
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Alta Sierra and for Nevada County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Alta Sierra

0.82%of the home’s value each year

$4,616 a year for the typical owner in Alta Sierra.

  • Alta Sierra 0.82%
  • Nevada 0.75%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Nevada County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Nevada County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.6%
292
Of those, with NFIP insurance
23%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.6% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 23% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Alta Sierra

Typical rent in Alta Sierra is $2,254 a month: 34% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Nevada County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,885 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.25 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Nevada County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,313 $25.25 $52,520
1 bedroom $1,441 $27.71 $57,640
2 bedrooms $1,885 $36.25 $75,400
3 bedrooms $2,610 $50.19 $104,400
4 bedrooms $3,151 $60.60 $126,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Alta Sierra

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Alta Sierra is in ZIP code 95949.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,080: $195 more than the fair market rent for Nevada County ($1,885).

  • 95949 $2,080$2,880

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Alta Sierra when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Alta Sierra

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Nevada County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Alta Sierra

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Alta Sierra or Nevada County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Alta Sierra the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Alta Sierra

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Alta Sierra, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • The Greater Sacramento Urban League

    3725 Marysville Blvd, Sacramento · 40 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (916) 286-8652

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Sacramento, CA

    3336 Bradshaw Rd Ste 100, Sacramento · 42 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    425-892-6222-1385

  • Greater Sacramento Urban League-Oak Park

    2331 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 45 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (916) 286-8652

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Alta Sierra

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Alta Sierra

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Nevada County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Nevada County

These cities are also in Nevada County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Nevada County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Alta Sierra, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Nevada County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Alta Sierra.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Alta Sierra

Short answers with the numbers for Alta Sierra and all of Nevada County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Alta Sierra?

The typical home value in Alta Sierra is $563,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Nevada County it is $621,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Alta Sierra?

Typical rent in Alta Sierra is $2,254 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Nevada County is $1,885.

What is the FHA loan limit in Alta Sierra?

Alta Sierra uses the FHA limit for all of Nevada County (2026): $649,750 for a one-unit home and $1,249,550 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Alta Sierra?

The typical homeowner in Alta Sierra pays $4,616 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.82% of the home’s value; in Nevada County, the rate is 0.75%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Alta Sierra?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Nevada County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).