RANK #886 / 1001 NAT · #25 / 43 CA · POP 192,662
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
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 — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.1% matches the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
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: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
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.
The data is not encouraging — El Dorado County scores just 11/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #886 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +0.9% and median household income of $108,845 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
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.
Population and employment in El Dorado County are both close to flat — population +0.2% YoY and jobs +0.9%. Home values shifted -1.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
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.