RANK #843 / 996 · POP 54,993 · CA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.0%
Columbia State Historic Park, a preserved Gold Rush town where visitors can pan for gold, stands as a distinctive landmark in Tuolumne County, California. Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, about a two-to-three-hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area, the county offers a blend of historic charm and natural beauty. Its community feel is often described as quiet and laid-back, with neighbors knowing each other. Outdoor recreation is a major draw, with year-round opportunities for hiking, biking, boating, fishing, skiing, and snowshoeing across the Stanislaus National Forest, numerous lakes like Pinecrest Lake, and over half of Yosemite National Park. Life in Tuolumne County appeals to both retirees and those seeking a connection to nature. Public transportation, primarily bus routes, connects towns within the county, with limited interregional options. The local economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which drives job growth in the leisure and hospitality sector. Other sectors contributing to employment include healthcare, government, and retail. The Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools partners with local schools to support education for over 5,000 students.
Overvalued relative to economy
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Speculative pricing
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Woody Pellet Biomass Facility (Chinese Camp)
Golden State Natural Resources
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Westside Subdivision
Tuolumne Economic Development Authority, Inc. (TEDA)
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Tuolumne County has a Boom Town Index score of 15/100, ranking #843 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +4.8% and a median household income of $70,432, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Tuolumne County is $377,700 with median rent at $1,129/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1865, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +4.8%. Home values changed -4.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 6.55% of Tuolumne County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.