What are the schools like in Alturas, CA?

Alturas is served primarily by Modoc Joint Unified. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.4:1.

What is the median household income in Alturas?

The median household income in Alturas, CA is $51,051 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.5%.

What is the weather like in Alturas, CA?

Alturas has an average high temperature of 44.1°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 22.2 inches.

Alturas, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alturas, CA affordable or expensive?

Alturas's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alturas is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $133,500 and the median rent is $775 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alturas, CA?

Alturas has a violent crime rate of 1477.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 643.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alturas, CA a Good Place to Live?

Alturas is a small town of 2,683 in California, with a median household income of $51,051 and a 10.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Alturas stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alturas is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alturas 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: 96.9

Alturas's overall cost of living index is 96.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alturas costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alturas, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$133,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$775	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,051	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Alturas's violent crime rate is 1477.3 per 100,000 residents — 289% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1477.3 /100k

Property Crime

643.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Alturas is served primarily by Modoc Joint Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alturas, CA	National Avg
School District	Modoc Joint Unified	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alturas sees average highs of 44.1°F in January and 89.7°F in July, with 11.7 inches of annual precipitation and 22.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alturas, CA
Average High — January	44.1°F
Average High — July	89.7°F
Annual Precipitation	11.7"
Annual Snowfall	22.2"

Demographics

Metric	Alturas, CA	National Avg
Population	2,683	—
Median Age	41.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	23.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Daphnedale Park, CA 1 mi California Pines, CA 8 mi Canby, CA 18 mi Likely, CA 18 mi Cedarville, CA 20 mi

Alturas vs Other Cities

Alturas, CA vs Daphnedale Park, CA Alturas, CA vs California Pines, CA Alturas, CA vs Canby, CA Alturas, CA vs Likely, CA Alturas, CA vs Cedarville, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alturas, CA affordable or expensive?

Alturas's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alturas roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $133,500 and median rent is $775/month.

What is the crime rate in Alturas, CA?

Alturas's violent crime rate is 1477.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 643.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alturas?

Public schools in Alturas are operated by Modoc Joint Unified. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alturas, CA a good place to live?

Alturas, CA has a population of 2,683, a median household income of $51,051, and an unemployment rate of 10.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alturas?

Alturas averages 44.1°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.7 inches with about 22.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Alturas?

The population of Alturas, California is 2,683 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alturas?

Key numbers for living in Alturas: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $133,500, median household income $51,051, crime index 246 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alturas side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.