City profile
Grass Valley, CA
Nevada County · Population 14,113
Grass Valley is a town in Nevada County, CA with about 14,113 residents and a typical home value near $482,000. It is 50 miles from Sacramento, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
46°F
Summer avg
75°F
Sunny days / yr
265
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$482,200
Typical monthly housing
$2,905
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
120
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 90/100
Top hazards: Wildfire, Landslide, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
46 mi to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 54% Democratic / 42% Republican
Community
Population
14,113
Black population
0.4%
County
Nevada County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 14,113 residents
- Typical home value about $482,000
- 50 miles from Sacramento, CA
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.