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Yuba County

CA · Pop. 83,079 · Mixed County

27/100Homestead Score

Yuba County is a mixed rural-suburban county in California, spanning 632 square miles with 83,079 residents at a density of 131.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on rice, hay, haylage. The median home price is $380,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.75%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 217-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.3°F and average winter lows of 34.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 35.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital is 16.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94% 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.

Property Tax: 0.75%
Growing Season: 217 days
Broadband: 94%
Density: 131.5/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 217-day growing season in USDA zone 9b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.75% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 94% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.

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 $380,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.

At a glance

Yuba County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
27/100
Median home price
$380k
Property tax
0.75%
Growing season
217 days (zone 9b)
Annual rainfall
35.5"
Broadband
94%
Nearest hospital
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, 16.1 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.75%
Median Household Income$73,313
Poverty Rate15.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$380K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone9b
Growing Season217 days
Annual Rainfall35.5 inches
Avg Summer High90.3°F
Avg Winter Low34.5°F
Top CropsRice, Hay, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought10/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado2/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalSierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (16.1 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities2

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage94%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate7.1%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Yuba County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Yuba County?
Yuba County is in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 217-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.3°F, and average winter lows of 34.5°F. The established crops are rice, hay, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $380,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.75%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 94% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital is 16.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Yuba County by distance, including across state lines.

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.