Real Estate Investing in Nevada City, California (95959)

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

Nevada County • Population: 18,017 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95959 (Nevada City, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (24/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -0.3% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Nevada City, CA (95959)?

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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 $570,261
Avg Monthly Rent $2,151
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,625
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 95959 Nevada City

This part of Nevada County is not an easy win. The 95959 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 95959 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 95959 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 95959 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 95959, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Nevada City:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 44/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,151/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Truckee-Grass Valley, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
47 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Truckee-Grass Valley, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 95959

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+2.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$165,489/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $347,954 $1,460 3.0% +1.1% $347,954
2BR $446,720 $1,920 3.1% +2.7% $223,360
3BR $593,211 $2,670 3.2% +2.7% $197,737
4BR $744,765 $3,220 3.1% +2.9% $186,191
5BR $827,444 +2.8% $165,489

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$645K$564K$483K$403K$322K$242KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,329$2,225$2,120$2,015$1,911$1,806Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95959 Compare?

Metric 95959 Nevada City Truckee-Grass Valley, CA California
Home Value $570,261 $461,989 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $2,151 $1,850 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.2% - -
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 95959 (Nevada City, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
-0.3%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $570,261
Monthly Rent $2,151
Price-to-Rent 22.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 2.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
14.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95959

Population: 18,017

💰 Median Household Income
$75,625
This area
$75,625
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.4%
This area
45.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.9 years
This area
54.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.2%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Asian 2.6%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.5%
This area
32.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 95959

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$29,573 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Nevada County Special Education

📚 K – 08 School
👥
68 Students
👨‍🏫
6.8:1 Class Size
💰
$39,763 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Earle Jamieson Educational Options

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
3 Students
👨‍🏫
1.5:1 Class Size
💰
$39,763 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Forest Charter

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
806 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$39,763 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Grizzly Hill

📚 K – 08 School
👥
110 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$35,839 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Nevada City School of the Arts

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,897 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Twin Ridges Home Study Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
220 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$39,763 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
197 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,415 Per Student
B Good

Seven Hills Intermediate

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,346 Per Student
B Good

Twin Ridges Special Education Preschool

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
💰
$35,839 Per Student
B Good

Deer Creek Elementary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,346 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

What monthly rent should investors expect in Nevada City, CA?

Rents in Nevada City, CA run near $2,151/mo. Compared with median home prices of $570K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How strong is tenant demand in Nevada City, CA?

The tenant pool in Nevada City, CA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,151/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Nevada City, CA?

Nevada City, CA median home values land near $570K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,151/mo-per-month rentals.

How tight is the rental market in Nevada City, CA?

Vacancy in Nevada City, CA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,151/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Nevada City, CA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Nevada City, CA. With home values at $570K and rents near $2,151/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

You know 95959 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 95959 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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How 95959 ranks in Truckee-Grass Valley, CA

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