Real Estate Investing in Alturas, California (96101)

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

Modoc County • Population: 4,868 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96101 (Alturas, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 23.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

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

What’s happening in Alturas, CA (96101)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $183,025
Avg Monthly Rent $1,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,863
% Renters 29.2%

Market Analysis: 96101 Alturas

ZIP 96101 inside Modoc County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $183K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 96101 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 96101 sits on the difficult end of the CA spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A healthy renter share of 29% in 96101 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Alturas's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 96101. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Alturas:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,017/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 96101

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$61,259/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $129,616 $1,130 6.3% +5.5% $64,808
3BR $191,205 $1,460 5.5% +7.9% $63,735
4BR $245,035 $1,870 5.5% +8.0% $61,259

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$191K$167K$144K$120K$96K$72KMay 2007Dec 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96101 Compare?

Metric 96101 Alturas California
Home Value $183,025 $183,025 $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,017 $1,017 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 96101? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96101 (Alturas, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $183,025
Monthly Rent $1,017
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
23.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 96101

Population: 4,868

💰 Median Household Income
$54,863
This area
$54,863
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.2%
This area
29.2%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.9%
This area
20.9%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.9 years
This area
44.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.2%
Other/Mixed 14.4%
Hispanic/Latino 9.0%
Black/African American 3.2%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.7%
This area
26.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
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 96101

C+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,603 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Modoc High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,603 Per Student
B Good

Alturas Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,603 Per Student
B Good

Modoc Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
202 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,603 Per Student
B Good

High Desert Community Day

📚 06 – 10 High School
👥
4 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,603 Per Student
C+ Average

Warner High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
10 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,603 Per Student
C Below Average

Modoc County ROP

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Modoc County Special Education

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
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

How quickly do rentals get leased in Alturas, CA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Alturas, CA. Rents at $1,017/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How much do tenants pay in Alturas, CA?

Rents in Alturas, CA run near $1,017/mo. Compared with median home prices of $183K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What is the median home value in Alturas, CA?

In Alturas, CA the median home value sits at $183K. Against the broader CA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Alturas, CA?

Most investors in Alturas, CA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How does Alturas, CA rate as a rental market?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Alturas, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $183K and rents of $1,017/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 96101 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 96101 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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