The Town Files

Modoc County, California

8,600 people. The median home is worth $224,700 (typical California town: $596,900) and the median household earns $59,455.

Towns in Modoc County

Towns in Modoc County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Alturas2,715$170,100$59,89645.3

People and housing

Modoc CountyTypical California town
Median home value$224,700$596,900
Median rent$836$1,827
Median household income$59,455$91,557
Median age47.540.2
Bachelor's degree or higher24.8%27.7%
Below the poverty line17.9%10.3%

Jobs and pay

2,768 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,973 a year.

Largest industries in Modoc CountyAgriculture, forestry & fishi…336 jobs · $54,067Retail178 jobs · $35,123Administrative & support165 jobs · $39,969Other services112 jobs · $43,149Wholesale trade102 jobs · $64,395Construction74 jobs · $57,086
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Modoc County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 6.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 461 storm events in Modoc County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Modoc County by type since 1996Flood10Wildfire33High Wind87Heavy Rain7Heavy Snow81Strong Wind9Frost/Freeze116Winter Storm18Excessive Heat8Winter Weather11
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Modoc County has been included in 17 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 3, 2023Severe StormDR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
March 22, 2020BiologicalDR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3428: Covid-19
May 1, 2019Severe StormDR-4431: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
April 1, 2017FloodDR-4308: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides
March 16, 2017FloodDR-4305: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).