Real Estate Investing in Sutter Creek, California (95685)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Amador County • Population: 4,611 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95685 (Sutter Creek, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (26/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • Declining values: -0.1% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Sutter Creek, CA (95685)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $474,976
Avg Monthly Rent $1,467
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,158
% Renters 28.8%

Market Analysis: 95685 Sutter Creek

The 95685 ZIP in Sutter Creek, CA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $475K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 95685 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 95685's metrics run below Amador County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 95685 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 95685 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Sutter Creek:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 40/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,467/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 95685

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+4.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$160,586/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $381,991 $1,630 3.1% +2.8% $190,995
3BR $484,392 $2,130 3.2% +3.0% $161,464
4BR $642,344 $2,610 2.9% +4.3% $160,586

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$546K$475K$404K$333K$262K$191KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95685 Compare?

Metric 95685 Sutter Creek California
Home Value $474,976 $474,976 $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,467 $1,467 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 95685 (Sutter Creek, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
-0.1%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $474,976
Monthly Rent $1,467
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 2.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -1.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.1%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95685

Population: 4,611

💰 Median Household Income
$60,158
This area
$60,158
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.8%
This area
28.8%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.3%
This area
35.3%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.0 years
This area
53.0 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.9%
Other/Mixed 11.2%
Hispanic/Latino 6.5%
Black/African American 0.5%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
34.7%
This area
34.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 95685

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$109,567 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

County Community

📚 01 – 12 K-12
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
4.7:1 Class Size
💰
$491,273 Per Student
B Good

Amador High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
627 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,140 Per Student
B Good

Independence High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
52 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,140 Per Student
B Good

Sutter Creek Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
397 Students
👨‍🏫
24.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,140 Per Student
C+ Average

North Star Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
44 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,140 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sutter Creek, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Sutter Creek, CA rates 2.0/5 for investability. With median values at $475K and rents near $1,467/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the smart move for investors in Sutter Creek, CA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Sutter Creek, CA best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $475K price point.

Are renters plentiful in Sutter Creek, CA?

The tenant pool in Sutter Creek, CA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,467/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What price range are homes in Sutter Creek, CA?

In Sutter Creek, CA the median home value sits at $475K. Against the broader CA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How tight is the rental market in Sutter Creek, CA?

Sutter Creek, CA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CA rental market.

You know 95685 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95685 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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