Is Potter Valley, CA a Good Place to Live?
Potter Valley is a small town of 537 in California, with a median household income of $76,250 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.
Strengths: Potter Valley stands out for solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Potter Valley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Potter 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: 109.4Potter Valley's overall cost of living index is 109.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Potter Valley costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Potter Valley, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $477,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,674 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $76,250 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafePotter Valley's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Potter Valley is served primarily by Potter Valley Community Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Potter Valley, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Potter Valley Community Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 98.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Potter Valley sees average highs of 57.4°F in January and 95.0°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Potter Valley, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 57.4°F |
| Average High — July | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Potter Valley, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 537 | — |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 73.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 18.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Potter Valley
Potter Valley, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: