7 / 100

Sutter County, CA

RANK #927 / 996  ·  POP 99,101  ·  CA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -2.1%

Sutter County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Sutter County?

Sutter County, located in California's Central Valley, is distinguished by the Sutter Buttes, often called the "world's smallest mountain range," which rise abruptly from the otherwise flat agricultural landscape. The county seat, Yuba City, sits about 40 miles north of Sacramento. Commute options to Sacramento include express bus services. Bordered by the Sacramento and Feather Rivers, the county offers outdoor recreation like fishing, boating, and birdwatching in areas such as the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. The community maintains a rural feel, with a focus on agriculture.

Life in Sutter County offers a rural lifestyle with access to services and proximity to the Sacramento metropolitan area. The public schools in Sutter County are highly rated. The local economy is largely driven by its agricultural heritage, with significant production of peaches, rice, and walnuts. Recent economic developments show investment in commercial, residential, and healthcare sectors, with Yuba City experiencing growth in new home permits and retail options. Sutter County has been recognized as one of California's fastest-growing counties.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
9.2x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+0.6%

Well below national median

Home Prices
-0.6%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.7

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 9.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Sutter County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
99,101
+0.02% YoY
Median Household Income
$72,654
Median Home Value
$375,400
-0.63% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,289
Average Annual Pay
$55,174
+2.9% YoY
Employment
32,774
-0.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1935
Near national average
Migration Inflow
5.65%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$451,500
Days on Market
38
Active market
Months of Supply
3.1
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.8%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
26.2%
Listings w/ Price Drops
33.8%
Building Permits (2024)
117
Single-Family Permits
117

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

[05] Capital Investment

$2,375M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Sutter Health Ambulatory Projects (Multiple Sites)
Sutter Health
$1,000M Under Construction
Sutter Decarbonization Project (Sutter Energy Center Carbon Capture)
Calpine Corp-Sutter
$500M Proposed
Sutter Pointe Specific Plan (Master-Planned Community)
Sutter County
$500M Planned
Skylight Renewable Energy (Solar and Battery Storage)
Skylight Renewable Energy
$200M Proposed
Lakeside at Sutter Pointe (Phase 1 Residential & Commercial)
Lennar Homes
$175M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +0.6% 12 percentile
Population Growth +0.0% 31 percentile
Income Growth +8.4% 48 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 77 percentile
Home Price Change -0.6% 24 percentile
Rent Growth -0.9% 5 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 22 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Sutter County has a Boom Town Index score of 7/100, ranking #927 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.2% and a median household income of $72,654, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Sutter County affordable?

The median home value in Sutter County is $375,400 with median rent at $1,289/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1935, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Sutter County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.2%. Home values changed -0.6% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Sutter County?

Yes — 5.65% of Sutter County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Bowie County, TX 17 Wake County, NC 17 Clearfield County, PA 17 Paulding County, GA 17 Cobb County, GA 17 Rusk County, TX 17 Wayne County, NC 17 Glynn County, GA 17