Unemployment in Plumas County, California, is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties
In Plumas County, 7.5% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Plumas County's score
In Plumas County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 93.6. Housing costs come next, at 59.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Plumas 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.
Plumas County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (62.7, 2025) and people with a credit card behind (4.0%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year7.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working31.7% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
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- 59.5 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 rent16.9% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.7% · fiscal year 202776th percentile
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- 52.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.0% · 202448th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.8% · 202453rd percentile
- People with a disability24.6% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- People without health insurance5.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$72,068 · 202435th percentile
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- 33.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.0% · August 202524th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.1% · August 202548th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score34.9% · second quarter of 202628th percentile
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- 22.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.6% · August 202528th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people62.7 · 202516th 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 Plumas 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 Plumas County, 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Plumas County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Plumas County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 30.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about one and a half times as much as benefit checks
In Plumas County, California, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Plumas County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise in the last span, from 10.6% in 2023 to 13.5% in 2024.
The share of households in Plumas County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2010, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 3.1% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Plumas County, California.
How Plumas County has changed
Plumas County's population had its largest rise, from 13,577 in 1974 to 16,701 in 1979.
Plumas County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2004 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 21,000 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Plumas County, California.
The number of jobs located in Plumas County had its largest drop, from 7,328 in 2005 to 6,123 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Plumas County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 7,328 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Plumas County, California.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.9% | 2025 7.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.7% | 2024 13.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,551 | 2024 $72,068 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Plumas County's history
1848
Gold discovered in Sierra foothills in 1848. Wikipedia
1937
Feather River Highway completed in 1937 with federal investment by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wikipedia
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 20,824. The 2020 Census counted 19,790, 95% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
A wildfire in September 2000 did $22.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2005
A flood in December 2005 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Lightning in June 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2017
A flood in February 2017 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1964
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Plumas County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Plumas County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Plumas County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Plumas County ranks 5th of the seven; Lassen County is highest, at 34.3%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tehama County, CA | 85 | 18.2% | 33.0% |
| Butte County, CA | 81 | 18.7% | 29.7% |
| Yuba County, CA | 75 | 13.5% | 33.0% |
| Shasta County, CA | 70 | 14.6% | 33.3% |
| Lassen County, CA | 53 | 17.2% | 34.3% |
| Plumas County, CA | 53 | 13.0% | 30.9% |
| Sierra County, CA | 48 | 13.5% | 27.2% |
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 Plumas County the poorest county in California?
No, Plumas County's poverty rate was 13.0% in 2024, 30th 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, Plumas County ranks 34th of 58 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Plumas 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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Legal Services of Northern California
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 Plumas 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 Plumas County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.