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City · 14,113 residents · Nevada County, California

Grass Valley , California

In Grass Valley, a typical home is worth $482,200 and typical rent is $1,458 a month. Compared with all of Nevada County, typical household income is 42% lower, the typical home value is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 35 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $482,200

    22% below the county

    34% below California

    • Grass Valley
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,458a month

    13% below the county

    28% below California

    • Grass Valley
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $51,764a year

    42% below the county

    48% below California

    • Grass Valley
    • Nevada
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    40%

    35 points below the county

    16 points below California

    • Grass Valley
    • Nevada
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$507,900
1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,227 a month
0.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley apart

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

  1. 40% of households in Grass Valley own their home, against 75% in Nevada County.

  2. The typical household income in Grass Valley is $51,764, 42% less than in Nevada County as a whole ($89,882).

  3. Nearby, in Linda, the typical home value is $371,700: 23% less than in Grass Valley ($482,200).

  4. The typical home in Grass Valley is worth $482,200, 22% less than in Nevada County as a whole ($621,800).

  5. Nearby, in Linda, the typical rent is $1,211: 17% less than in Grass Valley ($1,458).

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

The homes here

Housing in Grass Valley

What homes there are in Grass Valley, 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

No kind of home is the majority in Grass Valley; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 48%, less than in Nevada County (82%).

Year built

Homes in Grass Valley are older: the typical year built is 1978; in Nevada County, 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

$2,423 a month

Nevada County: $2,851 a month

Without a mortgage

$731 a month

Nevada County: $997 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Nevada County: 61%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Grass Valley is $2,423 a month, less than in Nevada County ($2,851); without one, $731.

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 Grass Valley rose 46% since 2015–2019.

Rents in Grass Valley rose faster than in Nevada County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 32%.

While home values in Grass Valley changed +46% and rent +36%, the typical household income rose 38%.

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

MeasureGrass ValleyNevada 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 1.962.362.842.53
Drive alone 68%63%66%69%
Carpool 11%6%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 15%25%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 1.96 on average, against 2.36 in Nevada County.

More people carpool to work in Grass Valley than in Nevada County: 11% against 6%.

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 Grass Valley?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Grass Valley, worth $482,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 91% of the typical household income in Grass Valley, which is $51,764 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $167,784 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 Grass Valley. 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 $16,877 (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

$3,915

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$473,466
Total interest
$681,207
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,143 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,208 a month

  • Tight

    $1,208 to $1,553 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,553 a month

    Your payment · 91%

Compared with the typical household income in Grass Valley ($51,764 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,915
Principal & interest$3,207
Property tax$293
Home insurance$201
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$213

You need at least $16,877 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

Grass Valley and Nevada County

Grass Valley 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).

Grass Valley's own numbers

Typical home value
$482,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,458
Typical yearly household income
$51,764
Households that own their home
40%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%

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 Grass Valley

A typical home in Grass Valley is worth $482,200: 22% below the county and 34% below California. With the typical household income in Grass Valley ($51,764 a year), a typical home costs 9.3 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.

  • Grass Valley 9.3 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

Grass Valley 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
  • Grass Valley $482,200
  • Nevada $621,800
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Grass Valley $1,458
  • Nevada $1,677
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Grass Valley $51,764
  • Nevada $89,882
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Grass Valley next to Nevada County and California
Measure Grass Valley Nevada County California U.S.
Typical home value $482,200 $621,800 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,458 $1,677 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,764 $89,882 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 40% 75% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,524 $4,694 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.73% 0.75% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 64% 57% 55% 51%

“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 Grass Valley

For a typical $482,200 home in Grass Valley, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Grass Valley's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,915a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $16,877
    Cash to close
    $31,343
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $213

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,827a month

    Down payment
    $24,110
    Cash to close
    $38,576
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $229

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,108a month

    Down payment
    $96,440
    Cash to close
    $110,906
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,553a month

    Down payment
    $72,330
    Cash to close
    $86,796
    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 Grass Valley and for Nevada County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Grass Valley

0.73%of the home’s value each year

$3,524 a year for the typical owner in Grass Valley.

  • Grass Valley 0.73%
  • 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 Grass Valley

Typical rent in Grass Valley is $1,458 a month: 13% below the county. In Grass Valley, 64% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

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 Grass Valley

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Grass Valley is in ZIP code 95945.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,650: $235 less than the fair market rent for Nevada County ($1,885).

  • 95945 $1,650$2,280

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Grass Valley 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?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Grass Valley

HUD lists 13 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Grass Valley. These are the largest.

  • Springhill Gardens Apts 200 Dorsey Dr, Grass Valley 95945 121 homes, 120 low-income · 1 bd: 47 · 2 bd: 60 · 3 bd: 14 · In service since 2009
  • Cedar Park Apts 210 Sutton Way, Grass Valley 95945 81 homes, 80 low-income · 2 bd: 37 · 3 bd: 32 · 4 bd: 12 · In service since 2004 · For families
  • Gold Country Village 115 Union Jack St, Grass Valley 95945 80 homes, 79 low-income · 1 bd: 44 · 2 bd: 36 · In service since 2016 · For older adults
  • Oak Ridge 228 Sutton Way, Grass Valley 95945 80 homes, 79 low-income · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 32 · 4 bd: 24 · In service since 1998 · For families
  • Eastridge Apts 46 Rockwood Dr, Grass Valley 95945 80 homes, 78 low-income · Studio: 12 · 1 bd: 56 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2000 · For older adults

See all 21 buildings in Nevada County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Grass Valley

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.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Grass Valley

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Grass Valley or Nevada County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Grass Valley, 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 · 45 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 · 48 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 · 51 miles away · Spanish

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

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Grass Valley

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 Grass Valley

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 Grass Valley, 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 Grass Valley.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Grass Valley

Short answers with the numbers for Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley?

The typical home value in Grass Valley is $482,200, 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 Grass Valley?

Typical rent in Grass Valley is $1,458 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 Grass Valley?

Grass Valley 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 Grass Valley?

The typical homeowner in Grass Valley pays $3,524 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Nevada County, the rate is 0.75%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Grass Valley?

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).