Is Nevada City, CA a Good Place to Live?
Nevada City is a small town of 3,142 in California, with a median household income of $65,032 and a 1.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.
Strengths: Nevada City stands out for solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Nevada City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Nevada City 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: 109.0Nevada City's overall cost of living index is 109.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Nevada City costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Nevada City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $540,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,480 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $65,032 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
High CrimeNevada City's violent crime rate is 1753.8 per 100,000 residents — 362% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Nevada City is served primarily by Twin Ridges Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Nevada City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Twin Ridges Elementary | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 21.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 96.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Nevada City sees average highs of 50.6°F in January and 87.2°F in July, with 52.8 inches of annual precipitation and 14.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Nevada City, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 50.6°F |
| Average High — July | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | Nevada City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,142 | — |
| Median Age | 56.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 91.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 42.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Nevada City
Nevada City, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: