Median Income
$89,152
household / year
Median Home Value
$471,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$775
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is Alta, CA a Good Place to Live?

Alta is a small town of 652 in California, with a median household income of $89,152 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Alta stands out for solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alta city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.9

Alta's overall cost of living index is 108.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alta costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric Alta, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $471,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $775 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 91.8% 65.9%
Median Household Income $89,152 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Alta's violent crime rate is 146.9 per 100,000 residents — 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
146.9 /100k
Property Crime
850.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Alta is served primarily by Alta-Dutch Flat Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Alta, CA National Avg
School District Alta-Dutch Flat Union Elementary —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 98.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alta sees average highs of 46.5°F in January and 77.8°F in July, with 54.5 inches of annual precipitation and 14.5 inches of snow per year.

MetricAlta, CA
Average High — January46.5°F
Average High — July77.8°F
Annual Precipitation54.5"
Annual Snowfall14.5"

Demographics

MetricAlta, CANational Avg
Population652—
Median Age51.538.9
Unemployment Rate6.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time45.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)87.6%59.3%
Black or African American0.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.6%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 189.0%22.2%
65 and over20.9%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dutch Flat, CA 2 mi Washington, CA 10 mi Colfax, CA 12 mi Nevada City, CA 13 mi Grass Valley, CA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Alta

Alta, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95701

Alta vs Other Cities

Alta, CA vs Dutch Flat, CA Alta, CA vs Washington, CA Alta, CA vs Colfax, CA Alta, CA vs Nevada City, CA Alta, CA vs Grass Valley, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Alta's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Alta roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $471,400 and median rent is $775/month.
Alta's violent crime rate is 146.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 850.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Alta are operated by Alta-Dutch Flat Union Elementary. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 38.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Alta, CA has a population of 652, a median household income of $89,152, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Alta averages 46.5°F in January and 77.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.5 inches with about 14.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Alta, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95701.
The population of Alta, California is 652 with a median age of 51.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Alta: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $471,400, median household income $89,152, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.