Cost of Living & Housing in Susanville
Susanville offers a genuinely affordable Northeastern California cost of living -- though the local housing market shows a real, disclosed recent softening, and California's real 13.3% top marginal income tax rate applies here exactly as it does statewide.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreGenuinely affordable housing, with a real, disclosed recent softening
Susanville's average home value ran $237,883 as of March 31, 2026 (up 0.7% year-over-year), against a separately cited median home value of $235,500 and a considerably higher median list price of $274,000 for August 2026 (base record). Price per square foot fell approximately 13% year-over-year as of August 2026 per one citation -- a real, disclosed softening trend plausibly connected to the town's ongoing population decline. Regardless of the exact figure, Susanville runs genuinely far below the California statewide median home price.
A Lassen County property tax rate with a real, disclosed cross-source spread
Lassen County's effective property tax rate ran a median 1.02% per one citation (aligning with the national median), against a separately cited, considerably lower 0.75% average rate on assessed fair-market values per a second citation (base record). California's Proposition 13 caps assessed-value growth at roughly 2% per year regardless of market appreciation, the same mechanic that applies statewide.
California's real 13.3% top income tax bracket -- the highest in the US
California's top marginal state income tax rate runs a real 13.3% on income over $1,000,000, applying to Susanville residents exactly as it does statewide, alongside a combined local sales tax rate of 8.25% in most of the city (base record).
Below-average household income, tied to the local prison-and-public-sector economy
Susanville's median household income ran $61,641 in 2024, genuinely below Lassen County's own $67,403 figure -- a real, disclosed reflection of a local job market historically anchored in state corrections and public service, though correctional officers themselves earn a real, substantial base pay of approximately $9,650/month at the still-operating High Desert State Prison (base record).
Key takeaways
- Susanville's housing figures ran roughly $235,500-$274,000 across sources, genuinely below the California statewide median -- though price per square foot fell a real, disclosed ~13% year-over-year as of August 2026.
- Lassen County's effective property tax rate carries a real, disclosed cross-source spread (0.75%-1.02%).
- California's real 13.3% top marginal income tax rate applies here, the same as statewide.
- Susanville's median household income ($61,641 in 2024) runs below the Lassen County figure, reflecting a job market historically anchored in state corrections and public service.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Susanville overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert