7 Most Affordable Towns To Retire In California's Sierra Nevada

Empty nesters who prioritize beautiful scenery, craggy peaks, rolling hills, shimmering lakes, and babbling brooks should start scoping for real estate property in California’s Sierra Nevada. Running along the eastern precincts of the Golden State, the Sierra Nevada is an excellent version of Switzerland. But there is a downside. Many towns here are expensive, with property prices shooting above $700,000. Still, some places are affordable and will not bankrupt a homeowner. The following seven towns act as affordable retirement havens in California's Sierra Nevada.

Murphys

Murphy's median home listing price is $562,500, which is a great bargain compared to California’s median listing price of $771,500. Murphy seems designed for retirees, and the numbers prove this fact. For example, the town’s median age is 60, and those aged 60 and above comprise 52% of the population. Also, retirees here do not have to worry about healthcare access since Adventist Health, a 2024 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient, is just next door in Sonora,17 miles down the road. Empty nesters can spend weekends at Murphys Community Park, an excellent trout-fishing venue; enjoy the Subterranean wonders of Mercer Caverns, the longest continually operating commercial caverns in the Golden State — or marvel at the groves of giant sequoia trees at the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, just 20 minutes away.

Sutter Creek

Sutter Creek is a cute, family-friendly town of about 2,600 residents, with a close-knit community and peaceful neighborhoods. The median listing home price in Sutter Creek was $545,000 in March 2024 — earning it a spot among the most affordable towns to retire in California’s Sierra Nevada. Sutter Creek’s median age is a sweet and mellow 46. In a similar vein, empty nesters (those aged 60 and above) comprise 38% of the population. Expect a picturesque, walkable town center to enjoy fun events such as the Annual Great Sutter Creek Duck Race and to be part of a warm, welcoming community. The nice thing about Sutter Creek is that while one can get most necessary items in town, Sacramento is still less than an hour’s drive away. Besides, this town is in the Amador Wine Country, and empty nesters will enjoy delicious experiences at sites such as the Scott Harvey Wines Tasting Room on Old Route 49. However, the small and intimate Sutter Creek Theatre will come in handy to catch a mood-lifting show. Finally, retiring here means one will be close to the highly rated Sutter Amador Hospital.

Mariposa

Mariposa boasts a median listing home price of $450,000, which, by California standards, is an excellent price point. The town scores big on outdoor adventure and provides convenient access to awe-inspiring venues such as Yosemite National Park. The well-maintained Mariposa Park is in town, an excellent venue for skateboarding and swimming. Other lovely outdoor sites include the scenic Stockton Creek Reservoir Trailhead, which, if used well, will ensure one is in a stellar physical shape. On healthcare access, John C. Fremont Healthcare is right in town and will meet the medical needs of a retiree. Then again, Mariposa boasts a median age of 55, and fellow empty nesters aged 60 and above comprise 44% of the population.

Sonora

Founded in the middle of the 19th century by miners from Mexico, Sonora was later called the Queen of the Southern Mines. The town is located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Foothills and boasts a median listing home price of just $459,500. Considering what Sonora offers, including the 18-hole Teleli Golf Club, the picturesque Dragoon Gulch Trail (it can serve as an excellent venue for early-morning strolls), and the Sierra Repertory Theatre, where one can enjoy a live performance while building social networks with residents — this town can easily meet an empty nester’s expectations. If under the weather, Adventist Health Sonora is right in town and is a 2024 recipient of the Patient Safety Excellence Award. This town's median age is 41, just where life starts — and empty nesters aged 60 and above comprise 29% of the population.

Dunsmuir

The median listing home price in Dunsmuir was $325,000 in April 2024, making it one of the most budget-friendly retirement venues in California’s Sierra Nevada. A nice, dainty town of fewer than 2,000 residents, Dunsmuir offers empty nesters small-town charm, a slow-paced ambiance (one does not need to know what the time is), and peaceful neighborhoods. The median age here is 42 — while fellow retirees aged 60 and above comprise 32% of the population, meaning 1 in 3 residents is in the sunset years. If you are in need of an urgent medical checkup, Mercy Medical Center in Mt. Shasta is just 9 miles down the road. While Burger Barn, a favorite burger spot on Dunsmuir Avenue, is enough reason to retire here, this town boasts other attractions and delights, including the Sacramento River (it meanders through the town), Tauhindauli Park, Hedge Creek Falls, and the heart-warming Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens.

Alturas

Alturas offers empty nesters a rural feel, elbow room ( it is almost never crowded in town), and affordable retirement. The median listing home price in Alturas was just $202,000 in March 2024. Considering Alturas is in California — not Mississippi — this price point is unbeatable. The town’s median age is 41, not too old and not too young, while retirees aged 60 and above comprise 27% of the population. Modoc Medical Center in Alturas is highly rated and will come in handy if one is feeling unwell. Besides, Alturas Park is a lovely venue to let a furry friend stretch and get some air, while water bodies such as Dorris Reservoir and Goose and Teal Ponds are peaceful venues with heart-melting waterfront views.

Placerville

To appreciate the beauty of Placerville, look closely at Hometown Morning, a beautiful painting by celebrated artist Thomas Kinkade. The stunning artwork represents a street in Placerville and speaks to the town’s aesthetic appeal. In March 2024, the median listing home price in Placerville was $607,500, which is still quite affordable by California standards. The American River provides a world of water-based adventure opportunities — including white water rafting — while Apple Hills and its refreshing atmosphere is a lovely site for recreation and culinary exploration. If desiring to step back in time, Hangtown's Gold Bug Park is a real mining site from the Gold Rush days. Empty nesters here are at the doorstep of Marshall Medical Center, whose history stems back to 1956. This town’s median age is 43, and residents 60 and above comprise 29% of the population. And with Hispanics comprising 21% of the town’s population, Placerville is also pleasantly diverse.

The Takeaway

Home to the Yosemite Valley, which celebrated naturalist John Muir once described as “Nature's landscape garden,” California’s Sierra Nevada represents some of nature’s most sumptuous workmanship. The Sierra’s conifer forests, its hills and dales, are stuff that can make one look younger and feel youthful. While some Sierra Nevada towns boast property prices that are over the roof, others are more affordable. These include Murphys, Sutter Creek, Mariposa, and Sonora.