Amador County
CA · Pop. 41,029 · Suburban County
Amador County sits in California across 595 square miles, home to 41,029 people at 69 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, tomatoes, melons. The median home price is $423,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.7%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 284-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.8°F and average winter lows of 38.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 37.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Sutter Amador Hospital is 8.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 77% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 284-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.7% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Sutter Amador Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 8.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low poverty rate of 7.8% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A median home price of $423,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- Broadband reaches only 77% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
At a glance
Amador County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 39/100
- Median home price
- $423k
- Property tax
- 0.7%
- Growing season
- 284 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 37.5"
- Broadband
- 77%
- Nearest hospital
- Sutter Amador Hospital, 8.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Amador County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Amador County?
- Amador County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 284-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.8°F, and average winter lows of 38.7°F. The established crops are hay, tomatoes, melons.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $423,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.7%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 77% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Sutter Amador Hospital is 8.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore California Resources
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More counties in California
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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