The Town FilesMeadow Vista, California
Community in Placer County · population 3,263 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $640,300
- Household income
- $100,859
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 58.5
Meadow Vista is a community of 3,263 people in Placer County, California. The median home is worth $640,300, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for families than 94% of California towns, better for retirees than 84% of California towns, quieter than 78% of California towns.
How Meadow Vista ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Meadow Vista is worth $640,300, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $100,859, which is more affordable than 52% of California towns. Median rent is $1,808 a month. 90.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Meadow Vista | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $640,300 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,808 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $100,859 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 90.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.0% | — |
Who lives in Meadow Vista
| People | Meadow Vista | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.4% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 23.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 93.3% |
Weather in Meadow Vista
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 37.8°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 20 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Meadow Vista since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 22, 2012 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 22, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on October 1, 1972.
Severe weather in Placer County since 1996
Placer County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 9, 2022 | Fire | FM-5453: Mosquito Fire |
| September 1, 2021 | Fire | EM-3571: Caldor Fire |
Jobs and pay in Placer County
Placer County had 186,942 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,804 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Meadow Vista itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Meadow Vista
1 public school with 375 students, about 22.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Hills Elementary | K-3 | 375 | 22.1 |
Towns near Meadow Vista
- Lake of the Pines, CA2.9 mi · 4,301 people · home $664,300
- North Auburn, CA5.4 mi · 13,452 people · home $530,400
- Auburn, CA7.7 mi · 13,776 people · home $672,500
- Auburn Lake Trails, CA8.6 mi · 3,388 people · home $560,300
- Alta Sierra, CA8.6 mi · 7,204 people · home $563,700
- Grass Valley, CA15.1 mi · 14,016 people · home $482,200
- Loomis, CA15.8 mi · 6,836 people · home $634,500
- Lincoln, CA16.3 mi · 49,757 people · home $651,000
Meadow Vista questions
Is Meadow Vista, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Meadow Vista scores better for retirees than 84% of California towns and quieter than 78%. 36.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.5).
How much does a house cost in Meadow Vista?
The median owner-occupied home in Meadow Vista is valued at $640,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,859, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,808 a month.
What is the weather like in Meadow Vista?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 37.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Meadow Vista get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Meadow Vista since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 22, 2012. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)