Near National AverageNear National AverageNevada County Office of Education
View of Grass Valley, CA 2025 · AstroDominant / CC BY 4.0Grass Valley, Main Street · Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0Grass Valley High School girls basketball team, 1918 · Rick Cooper / CC BY 2.0Grass Valley Public Library · Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0
Grass Valley is a small city of 13,964 in California, with a median household income of $49,855
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is
7% above the national average.
Strengths:
Grass Valley stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Grass Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Grass Valley 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: 106.7
Grass Valley's overall cost of living index is 106.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Grass Valley costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.
Metric
Grass Valley, CA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$434,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,267
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
41.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$49,855
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Grass Valley's violent crime rate is 540.2 per 100,000 residents
— 42% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
540.2 /100k
Property Crime
2146.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Grass Valley is served primarily by Nevada County Office of Education.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Grass Valley, CA
National Avg
School District
Nevada County Office of Education
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Grass Valley sees average highs of 53.6°F in January
and 88.0°F in July,
with 52.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Grass Valley's cost of living index is 107, where 100 is the national average.
That puts Grass Valley roughly 7% above the national average in cost.
The median home price is $434,100 and median rent is $1,267/month.
Grass Valley's violent crime rate is 540.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2146.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Grass Valley are operated by Nevada County Office of Education.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Grass Valley, CA has a population of 13,964, a median household income of $49,855, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Grass Valley averages 53.6°F in January and 88.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.8 inches
with about 8.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Grass Valley, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95945.
The population of Grass Valley, California is 13,964 with a median age of 47.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Grass Valley: cost of living index 107 (100 = US average), median home $434,100, median household income $49,855, crime index 126 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Grass Valley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
