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Grass Valley, CA
City in Nevada County, California.
Population
14,113
Land area
6sq mi
People per sq mi
2,354
ZIP codes
0
Grass Valley and its ZIP codes
Grass Valley at a glance
- Grass Valley is about 9.3 times as dense as California as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $51,764 a year, 48% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $482,200 (34% below California) and median rent is $1,458 a month.
Local data for Grass Valley, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Grass Valley, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,764
Poverty rate
22.1%
Median home value
$482,200
Median rent
$1,458/mo
Homeownership
40.2%
Bachelor's or higher
32.8%
Median age
49.6
Average commute
16.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,921), German Americans (1,861), Italian Americans (1,314).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Nevada County. PPP loans are for Grass Valley.
Unemployment rate
5.0%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$65,782
34,626 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$80,346
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.01B
FY 2026, $9,915 per person
How people get to work
Grass Valley, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone68.2%
- Carpooled10.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.5%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home15.2%
Average one-way commute: 16.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Grass Valley, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
1,183
Countywide, mostly heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
115
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 33°F
53.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Grass Valley, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
28.6%
U.S. 33.3% -4.7 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
12.6%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
7.0%
U.S. 11.1% -4.1 pts
Cities near Grass Valley
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Rough and ReadyCensus-designated place | 4 mi | 3.2 |
| Nevada CityCity | 4 mi | 2.2 |
| Alta SierraCensus-designated place | 6.4 mi | 8.3 |
| Penn ValleyCensus-designated place | 6.9 mi | 2.1 |
| Lake WildwoodCensus-designated place | 7.4 mi | 3.1 |
| ColfaxCity | 10 mi | 1.4 |
| North San JuanCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 2.4 |
| SmartsvilleCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.7 |
| Lake of the PinesCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 2.5 |
| Dutch FlatCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| DobbinsCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 7.7 |
| AltaCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 2.4 |
| Meadow VistaCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 5.3 |
| PikeCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 4.3 |
| CamptonvilleCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 0.9 |
| Beale AFBCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 10.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Grass Valley, CA in?
- Grass Valley is in Nevada County, California.
- What is the population of Grass Valley, CA?
- About 14,113 people live in Grass Valley, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Grass Valley?
- Nearby places include Rough and Ready (4 mi), Nevada City (4 mi), Alta Sierra (6.4 mi), Penn Valley (6.9 mi), Lake Wildwood (7.4 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023