Alta Sierra (Nevada County) is a community in Nevada County, California, home to about 7,361 people across 8.3 square miles. Its ZIP code is 95949.
Homes sold for a median of $302 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Alta Sierra (Nevada County); also Grass Valley
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Alta Sierra (Nevada County). Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Alta Sierra (Nevada County)’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Sacramento International Airport (SMF)40 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Sacramento, CA43 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Los Angeles, CA382 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Alta Sierra (Nevada County); driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Alta Sierra (Nevada County) had 7,204 residents in the 2020 census, up 10% since 2000.
It’s the 565th largest of 1,563 towns in California by population.
Nevada County grew from 17,789 residents in 1900 to 102,241 in 2020.
Nevada County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 88°F in summer, and winter lows average 33°F. About 53.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 9 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Grass Valley #2, CA weather station (6 miles away).
27,771 jobs at 3,323 businesses in Nevada County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
72 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Alta Sierra (Nevada County).
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 7 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 3 |
| Dentists | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 4 |
| Mental health providers | 50 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 4 |
| Pharmacies | 3 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary, Clear Creek Elementary, John Muir Charter District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Sierra ElementaryGrass Valley | K–5 | 338 | Public | 2.8 mi |
| Arete Charter AcademyGrass Valley | K–8 | 207 | Charter | 3.3 mi |
| Clear Creek ElementaryGrass Valley | K–8 | 173 | Public | 3.2 mi |
| Cottage Hill ElementaryGrass Valley | K–5 | 485 | Public | 4.9 mi |
| John Muir CharterGrass Valley | 6–12 | 629 | Charter | 6.3 mi |
| Magnolia IntermediateGrass Valley | 6–8 | 410 | Public | 4.9 mi |
| Bear River HighGrass Valley | 9–12 | 664 | Public | 5.1 mi |
| Pleasant Ridge Special Education PreschoolGrass Valley | — | — | Public | 4.9 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mtn Community Montessori SchoolGrass Valley | 1–6 | 8 | Nonsectarian | 4.4 mi |
| Christian Encounter High SchoolGrass Valley | 9–12 | 9 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 0.4 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Grass Valley.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.