What are the schools like in Portola, CA?

Portola is served primarily by Plumas Unified. The district operates 4 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.9:1.

What is the median household income in Portola?

The median household income in Portola, CA is $52,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.0%.

What is the weather like in Portola, CA?

Portola has an average high temperature of 43.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 23.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Portola, CA affordable or expensive?

Portola's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portola is 0% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $196,200 and the median rent is $837 per month.

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

Portola has a violent crime rate of 808.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1446.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portola, CA a Good Place to Live?

Portola is a small town of 2,427 in California, with a median household income of $52,500 and a 7.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% below the national average.

Strengths: Portola stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Portola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portola 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: 99.5

Portola's overall cost of living index is 99.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portola costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.

Metric	Portola, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$196,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$837	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Portola's violent crime rate is 808.2 per 100,000 residents — 113% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

808.2 /100k

Property Crime

1446.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Portola is served primarily by Plumas Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portola, CA	National Avg
School District	Plumas Unified	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portola sees average highs of 43.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July, with 23.3 inches of annual precipitation and 37.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portola, CA
Average High — January	43.0°F
Average High — July	86.4°F
Annual Precipitation	23.3"
Annual Snowfall	37.8"

Demographics

Metric	Portola, CA	National Avg
Population	2,427	—
Median Age	39.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	16.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Delleker, CA 1 mi Lake Davis, CA 2 mi Iron Horse, CA 3 mi Beckwourth, CA 4 mi Gold Mountain, CA 5 mi

Portola vs Other Cities

Portola, CA vs Delleker, CA Portola, CA vs Lake Davis, CA Portola, CA vs Iron Horse, CA Portola, CA vs Beckwourth, CA Portola, CA vs Gold Mountain, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portola, CA affordable or expensive?

Portola's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That makes Portola roughly 0% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $196,200 and median rent is $837/month.

What is the crime rate in Portola, CA?

Portola's violent crime rate is 808.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1446.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portola?

Public schools in Portola are operated by Plumas Unified. The district has 4 elementary, several middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 11.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portola, CA a good place to live?

Portola, CA has a population of 2,427, a median household income of $52,500, and an unemployment rate of 7.0%. 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 Portola?

Portola averages 43.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 23.3 inches with about 37.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Portola?

The population of Portola, California is 2,427 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portola?

Key numbers for living in Portola: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $196,200, median household income $52,500, crime index 155 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.