About one in nine people in Alpine County, California, has a disability
In Alpine County, 11.4% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 89% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives Alpine County's score
In Alpine County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 77.4. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 25.9. About one in four people (25.5%, Q2 2026) has a subprime credit score, a lower share than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Alpine County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Alpine County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (8.5%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and children below the poverty line (26.2%, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 77.4 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year8.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.3% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
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- 43.3 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent4.2% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.6% · fiscal year 202781st percentile
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- 40.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line15.8% · 202469th percentile
- Children below the poverty line26.2% · 202484th percentile
- People with a disability11.4% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- People without health insurance3.7% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,440 · 202430th percentile
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- 38.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collectornot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202529th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 peoplenot published for this county; scored at the state median · 202546th percentile
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- 25.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202540th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202531st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score25.5% · second quarter of 20265th or lower percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Alpine County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Alpine County, 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Alpine County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Alpine County had its largest rise in the last span, from 18.6% in 2019 to 28.9% in 2024.
In Alpine County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 28.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Alpine County, California, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Alpine County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 6.1% in 2014 to 12.8% in 2015.
The share of households in Alpine County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 4.8% in 2013. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Alpine County, California.
How Alpine County has changed
Alpine County's population had its largest rise, from 730 in 1974 to 1,160 in 1979.
Alpine County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2004 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 1,263 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Alpine County, California.
The number of jobs located in Alpine County had its largest rise in the last span, from 657 in 2020 to 1,009 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Alpine County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 12% since
High on the chart: 1,141 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Alpine County, California.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.6% | 2025 7.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.4% | 2024 15.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,097 | 2024 $74,440 |
The table uses 7.4% for 2025; the score uses 8.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Alpine County's history
1864
Alpine County was formed March 16, 1864 from parts of Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne counties. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 1,208. The 2020 Census counted 1,204, 100% of the peak. Census Bureau
2005
A flood in December 2005 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1964
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Alpine County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Alpine County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Alpine County, in California and Nevada, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Alpine County ranks 4th of the seven; Tuolumne County is highest, at 31.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne County, CA | 63 | 12.7% | 31.6% |
| Calaveras County, CA | 63 | 11.5% | 29.1% |
| Alpine County, CA | 41 | 15.8% | 28.9% |
| Amador County, CA | 40 | 10.8% | 29.7% |
| El Dorado County, CA | 31 | 7.9% | 16.8% |
| Douglas County, NV | 23 | 8.2% | 14.9% |
| Mono County, CA | 11 | 9.8% | 12.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Alpine County the poorest county in California?
No, Alpine County's poverty rate was 15.8% in 2024, 17th highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Alpine County ranks 41st of 58 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Alpine County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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California Indian Legal Services (Bishop office)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Alpine County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Alpine County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.