RANK #188 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 43 CA · POP 192,662
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
El Dorado County, Spanish for "The Golden One," is renowned as the heart of California's Gold Rush country, with Placerville serving as its historic county seat. Located in east-central California, about 45 miles northeast of Sacramento, the county spans rolling foothills to the Sierra Nevada mountains, including a portion of Lake Tahoe. This diverse landscape offers year-round outdoor recreation, from whitewater rafting on the American River to hiking and mountain biking on trails like the Jenkinson Lake Loop and the Rubicon Trail. Skiing and snowboarding are popular in the winter months near Lake Tahoe. Commute options to Sacramento are available via public transit, including commuter bus routes with park-and-ride locations.
Life in El Dorado County often appeals to families and those seeking a balance between natural amenities and community living. The county's public schools are highly rated, with approximately 70% scoring in the top thirty percent of California schools. The economy is experiencing growth, with significant investment in residential and commercial sectors. This includes new housing developments and expanded retail options. The region also has a growing wine and agricultural scene, with over 70 wineries.
El Dorado County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.5% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 32.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where El Dorado County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan
El Dorado County
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Bass Lake Hills Development
Undisclosed
|
$700M | Under Construction |
|
Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan
El Dorado County
|
$400M | Proposed |
|
Creekside Village
Undisclosed
|
$380M | Approved |
|
Gateway El Dorado Specific Plan
El Dorado County
|
$150M | Proposed |
|
El Dorado PV BESS (Battery Storage Facility with Solar Charging)
Undisclosed
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
El Dorado County ranks #188 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.1% and a median household income of $108,845 point to a county with active economic momentum.
El Dorado County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $679,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,715/month on average.
Employers in El Dorado County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.2% YoY). Home values moved +0.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.83% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests El Dorado County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.