PlainZIP

Loyalton, CA · standard

ZIP Code 96118

Sierra County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

1,627
3/sq mi
$54,167
Median income
$243,800
Median home value
26.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Loyalton pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

20th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 44%
home value, US ZIPs
3
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 96118 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 96118 covers 524.8 square miles in Loyalton, Sierra County, California (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 1,627 residents on file, a density of 3 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.

ZIP 96118 reports a modest median household income of $54,167 (47% below the California average), while per-capita income is $33,137. The poverty rate stands at 7.9% and the unemployment rate at 19.2%. The typical home here is valued at $243,800 (68% below the state average); renters pay a median of - monthly, and 75.1% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.8, and the average commute is -. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Sierra County, so you can benchmark 96118 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 96118

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Loyalton, CA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 96118.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 96118, Loyalton, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

1,627

Population

524.8

Area (sq mi)

3

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 96118?

54.8

Median Age

48.6%

Male

51.4%

Female

0.0%

Foreign-Born

White 92.2%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$54,167

Median Household Income

-47% vs state

$33,137

Per Capita Income

7.9%

Poverty Rate

19.2%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 96118 ranks nationally

Loyalton, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$54,167 20th percentile higher than 20% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 46.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

774

Total Housing Units

622

Occupied Units

152

Vacant Units

2.08

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.1%
Renter 24.9%

$243,800

Median Home Value

-68% vs state

1972

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+9.4%

YoY Change (2024)

254

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+154%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 96118 have increased 9.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +154% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2018 +14.3% 175
2019 -3.7% 169
2020 +9.3% 184
2021 +9.4% 202
2024 – 254

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 23 business establishments in ZIP 96118, employing approximately 88 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,020,000.

23

Businesses

88

Employees

$3.0M

Annual Payroll

3

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 6 26.1%
Health care and social assistance 6 26.1%
Accommodation and food services 3 13.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 96118 vs 96129 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
96129 Beckwourth, CA 261 12.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Sierra County

95936 standard
Downieville, CA
Pop: 352
96124 standard
Calpine, CA
Pop: 326
96125 standard
Sierra City, CA
Pop: 258
96126 standard
Sierraville, CA
Pop: 215
96111 standard
Floriston, CA
Pop: 160
95910 standard
Alleghany, CA
Pop: 86

Related Areas

Sierra County Loyalton, CA California

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 96118 in? ▼
ZIP code 96118 (Loyalton) is located in Sierra County, California. Sierra County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/sierra-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 96118? ▼
ZIP code 96118 in Loyalton, CA has a population of 1,627 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 96118? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 96118 is $54,167, which is 29% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 96118? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 96118 is $243,800, which is 12% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 96118? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 96118 is White at 92.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 96118? ▼
ZIP code 96118 has 23 business establishments employing approximately 88 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 96118? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 96118 are: Construction (6), Health care and social assistance (6), Accommodation and food services (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 96118? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 96118 increased by 9.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 154%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 96118? ▼
In ZIP code 96118, 46.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 96118? ▼
In ZIP code 96118, approximately 75.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 96118? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 96118 is 7.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.