The Town FilesSusanville, California
City in Lassen County · population 16,728 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,500
- Household income
- $61,641
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 36.8
Susanville is a city of 16,728 people in Lassen County, California. The median home is worth $235,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks easier by car than 74% of California towns, quieter than 70% of California towns.
How Susanville 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 Susanville is worth $235,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $61,641, which is more affordable than 93% of California towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 53.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Susanville | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $902 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $61,641 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Susanville
| People | Susanville | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Susanville
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 13.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Susanville since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 6, 2017.
Severe weather in Lassen County since 1996
Lassen County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 24, 2021 | Fire | DR-4610: Wildfires |
| July 20, 2021 | Fire | FM-5400: Dixie Fire |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | FM-5339: Sheep Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lassen County
Lassen County had 9,174 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,583 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Susanville itself the ACS puts it at 9.3%.
Public schools in Susanville
12 public schools with 2,374 students, about 21.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen High | 9-12 | 805 | 20.1 |
| McKinley Elementary | K-2 | 372 | 19.6 |
| Meadow View | 3-5 | 321 | 26.8 |
| Diamond View Middle | 6-8 | 296 | 26.9 |
| Johnstonville Elementary | K-8 | 198 | 24.8 |
| Richmond Elementary | K-8 | 185 | 20.6 |
| Thompson Peak Charter (charter) | K-12 | 150 | 16.7 |
| Credence High | 9-12 | 27 | 13.5 |
| Lassen Community Day | 9-12 | 13 | 13.0 |
| Lassen County Special Education | K-12 | 7 | 3.5 |
| Lassen ROP | 11-12 | — | — |
| Susanville State Preschool | Other | — | — |
Susanville questions
Is Susanville, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Susanville scores better for retirees than 30% of California towns and quieter than 70%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Susanville?
The median owner-occupied home in Susanville is valued at $235,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,641, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Susanville?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Susanville get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Susanville in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)