City · California
Nevada City, California
Nevada City, city, in Nevada County, California. Nevada City had 3,174 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,152 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,172 (±17). GEOID 0650874.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,174
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,152 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,172 ±17
Median household income
$75,792
±$15,323 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$677,400
±$57,374 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,411
±$752 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Nevada City and what county is it in?
Nevada City is a city in Nevada County, California. It covers 2.2 square miles of land, 1,403 residents per square mile in 2020.
Nevada City is in the Truckee-Grass Valley, CA micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Nevada City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,174 people lived in Nevada City on July 1, 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 3,152 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,172 (±17).
| Measure | Nevada City | Nevada County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,172 ±17 | 102,481 | +28 |
| Households | 1,323 ±140 | 42,865 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.28 ±0.24 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,629 ±205 | 54,309 | no clear change |
Nevada City's population since 2000
From 3,001 in 2000 to 3,174 in 2025: up 5.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Nevada City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Nevada City?
The median resident of Nevada City is 52.8 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 40.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.4%.
| Measure | Nevada City | Nevada County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 ±19.3 | 50.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% ±7.0 pts | 17.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 40.9% ±13.1 pts | 29.3% | – |
| Male | 48.9% ±6.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% ±1.4 pts | 10.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.8% ±5.3 pts | 80.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±1.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.4% ±5.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.6% ±9.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.2% ±14.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.8% ±4.0 pts | 8.1% | – |
| With a disability | 7.7% ±3.7 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±5.7 pts | 5.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.8% ±2.7 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.5% ±9.5 pts | 41.5% | +14.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.5% ±8.2 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.5% ±13.2 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4% ±3.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Nevada City earn?
Half of Nevada City's 1,323 households earn less than $75,792 a year (±$15,323), against $89,882 in Nevada County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $51,762 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $24,030 after inflation.
| Measure | Nevada City | Nevada County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,792 ±$15,323 | $89,882 | +$24,030 |
| Mean household income | $112,589 ±$24,210 | $124,444 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,411 ±$11,032 | $53,364 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.9% ±7.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±7.0 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.5% ±4.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 100.0% ±3.2 pts | 96.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.7% ±2.7 pts | 93.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Nevada City?
Owners occupy 54.3% of Nevada City's occupied homes and renters 45.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $677,400 by its owner (±$57,374). The median renter pays $1,411 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Nevada City | Nevada County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $677,400 ±$57,374 | $621,800 | +$163,462 |
| Median gross rent | $1,411 ±$752 | $1,677 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.2% ±23.0 pts | 48.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,946 ±$689 | $2,851 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.3% ±12.0 pts | 75.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.7% ±12.0 pts | 24.5% | – |
| Housing units | 1,629 ±205 | 54,309 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.6% ±3.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% ±9.4 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.0% ±9.5 pts | 81.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.3% ±2.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 43.0% ±12.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.6% ±2.9 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Nevada City work and get to work?
52.8% of Nevada City's workers drive alone and 31.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes.
| Measure | Nevada City | Nevada County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.5% ±12.2 pts | 53.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 52.8% ±19.7 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.7% ±7.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 4.3% ±4.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 31.5% ±17.5 pts | 25.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±12.2 | 23.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Nevada City?
No census tract lies mostly in Nevada City; 3 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8.02Nevada County | 6,317 | $88,455 |
| Tract 8.01Nevada County | 5,203 | $93,056 |
| Tract 5.04Nevada County | 4,953 | $74,214 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Nevada City) · Census block assignment files
How does Nevada City compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Nevada City is the 6,156th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 446th-most populous of 483 in California.
Nevada City ranks 733rd of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 446th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 128th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 677th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 733rd | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 417th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 461st | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 747th | 987 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 233rd | 988 |
| Median age | 122nd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 824th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 100th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 920th | 1,069 |
Nevada City's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Nevada City with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Nevada City?
24 of the 57 figures for Nevada City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Nevada City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Nevada City.