35 / 100

Yuba County, CA

Olivehurst

RANK #639 / 996 NAT  ·  #11 / 43 CA  ·  POP 81,705

1YR FORECAST: -0.0%

5YR OUTLOOK: +20%

Yuba County's housing market is projected to grow -0.0% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Yuba County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
8.1x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+1.2%

Well below national median

Home Prices
-2.9%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
5.0

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 8.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Yuba County Government Government
    2,500+
  2. 2
    Marysville Joint Unified School District Education
    1,000+
  3. 3
    Sutter Health Healthcare
    500+
  4. 4
    Sunsweet Growers Agriculture
  5. 5
    Sutter North Medical Group Healthcare
    250+
  6. 6
    Ampla Health Healthcare
  7. 7
    Walmart Retail
  8. 8
    The Home Depot Retail
  9. 9
    Target Retail
  10. 10
    Sam's Club Retail

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Yuba County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
81,705
+1.62% YoY
Median Household Income
$66,693
Median Home Value
$350,600
-2.91% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,137
Average Annual Pay
$66,931
+4.4% YoY
Employment
21,061
+1.7% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1902
Near national average
Migration Inflow
6.88%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
17.4%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$425,000
Days on Market
54
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
3.4
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.0%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
40.4%
Listings w/ Price Drops
18.3%
Building Permits (2024)
756
Single-Family Permits
692

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

C
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
7.4
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
13.6
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
90.0
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Above national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Capital Investment

$200M
TOTAL
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.

[07] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.2% 20 percentile
Population Growth +1.6% 85 percentile
Income Growth +6.4% 12 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 62 percentile
Home Price Change -2.9% 10 percentile
Rent Growth +2.6% 43 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 33 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[08] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Yuba County, CA a good place to move to?

At 35/100, Yuba County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $66,693 combined with job growth of +1.7% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.

Is Yuba County affordable?

Yuba County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $350,600 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 $1,137/month on average.

Is Yuba County growing or shrinking?

Yuba County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.7% clip. Home values shifted -2.9% in the past year.

Are people moving to Yuba County?

In significant numbers — 6.88% 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.

[09] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Butte County, CA 33 San Benito County, CA 40 El Dorado County, CA 30 Sacramento County, CA 28 Merced County, CA 43 Riverside County, CA 26 Washington County, VT 35 Warren County, NJ 35