Living in Alta, California
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Alta · Census data 2020–2024
Alta has 656 residents with a median age of 46.9. The median household income is $96,792 (about the same as the California median), the median home value is $470,000, the median rent is $1,083/month.
Alta is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Alta at a glance
- Population
- 656
- Median age
- 46.9State: 37.9
- Median household income
- $96,792State: $99,122
- Median home value
- $470,000State: $734,700
- Median rent
- $1,083/moState: $2,036
- Homeowners
- 92%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 38%
- Average commute
- 47 min
Is Alta a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 36% lower than the state median; a poverty rate of 7.3%.
Cons: Median household income about the same as the California median; an average commute of 47 minutes; unemployment of 7.6%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Alta
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Alta the median home value is $470,000, 41% higher than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,083 per month, which is 23.3% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $2,177 a month in housing costs.
Alta median household income
The median household income in Alta is $96,792 and the income per person is $80,170. 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line (California: 12%).
Housing in Alta: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 374
- Owner-occupied
- 92%
- Renter-occupied
- 8%
- Vacant
- 30.2%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1981
- Average household size
- 2.49
30.2% of homes are vacant most of the year, a sign that Alta has many vacation and second homes.
Alta demographics
- Population
- 656
- Median age
- 46.9
- Under 18
- 11.3%
- 65 and older
- 20.6%
- Households
- 261
- Foreign-born
- 8.8%
- Veterans
- 5.5%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Alta ›
Education in Alta
38% of adults 25 and older in Alta have a bachelor's degree or higher (California: 37.1%), and 14.5% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Alta
- Unemployment rate
- 7.6%State: 6.6%
- Average commute
- 47 minState: 29 min
- Work from home
- 38.5%
- Drive alone
- 60.6%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 0%
- Homes with broadband
- 90.4%
Alta vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta | 656 | $96,792 | $470,000 | $1,083 |
| Dutch Flat | 200 | $96,136 | $440,300 | — |
| Colfax | 2,407 | $72,788 | $434,300 | $1,553 |
| Nevada City | 3,172 | $75,792 | $677,400 | $1,411 |
| Grass Valley | 14,113 | $51,764 | $482,200 | $1,458 |
| Foresthill | 1,483 | $81,111 | $524,300 | $2,158 |
| Alta Sierra | 7,361 | $105,603 | $563,700 | $2,254 |
| Rough and Ready | 736 | $102,725 | $691,500 | $1,214 |
| Lake of the Pines | 5,461 | $121,682 | $664,300 | $2,399 |
More for people moving to Alta
Alta ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Alta: FAQ
What is the median household income in Alta, CA?
The median household income in Alta is $96,792, about the same as the California median of $99,122 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Alta?
The median home value in Alta is $470,000, compared with $734,700 in California.
How much is rent in Alta?
The median gross rent in Alta is $1,083 per month, about 23.3% of household income.
Is Alta, CA a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 36% lower than the state median; a poverty rate of 7.3%. Minuses: median household income about the same as the California median; an average commute of 47 minutes; unemployment of 7.6%.
What is the median age in Alta?
The median age in Alta is 46.9 years (California: 37.9).
How long is the commute in Alta?
The average commute to work in Alta is 47 minutes; 38.5% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Alta?
The unemployment rate in Alta is 7.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Alta?
38% of adults in Alta have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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