RANK #752 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 43 CA · POP 84,507
1YR FORECAST: -0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
The Sutter Buttes, often called the "world's smallest mountain range," rise from the valley floor in Yuba County, California, offering a distinctive landmark and hiking opportunities. Located north of Sacramento, the county seat, Marysville, sits at the confluence of the Yuba and Feather Rivers. Commute options to Sacramento are available via Yuba-Sutter Transit's express bus service. The area boasts abundant outdoor recreation, including swimming and gold panning in the Yuba River, fishing in the Feather River, and hiking trails at locations like Sycamore Ranch and Hammon Grove Park. The region experiences over 260 sunny days annually.
Life in Yuba County offers a small-town feel with access to natural amenities. The county's economy is rooted in agriculture, with crops like peaches, prunes, and rice, alongside timber production. Beale Air Force Base is a major employer, contributing to the local economy. Recent economic developments include investments in commercial and residential sectors, with new housing developments underway in areas like Plumas Lake. The Yuba County Office of Education oversees the public school system, and Yuba College provides higher education opportunities.
Yuba County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.4% YoY, population +1.7%, wages +4.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 23.8x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Plumas Lake Residential Developments
Various (e.g., Lennar, Cresleigh Homes, Silvermark Construction Services)
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Costco Wholesale Store (Linda)
Costco Wholesale Corporation
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Yuba Crossing Mixed Use Plan (Yuba City)
New Faze Development
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 24/100, Yuba County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $76,373 combined with job growth of -0.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Yuba County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $412,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,311/month on average.
Yuba County's population is growing — up +1.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.3%). Home values shifted -2.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 7.04% of Yuba County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.