Loyalton is the only incorporated city in Sierra County, California, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 740, reflecting a decline of 29 from the 769 counted in 2010. The ZIP code for the community is 96118. The town is near the north extent of State Route 49, which ends at State Route 70 in Vinton. According to Rand-McNally, it is a fifty-mile drive on State Route 49 to the county seat, Downieville. Many of the population are ranchers, loggers, former loggers, or suburbanites who have relocated from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and growing Reno–Tahoe area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code96118

Area code530

Living in Loyalton

Housing in Loyalton

$310K▲ 0.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Loyalton home is worth about $310,000, up 0.8% in a year, 59% below the California typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Health in Loyalton

Compared with California

5better than CA·12worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▼ 2 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind 1▲ 1▼ 3 close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8%Fewer uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · better 12.3%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityCA 14.9% · better 9.4%More adults with COPDCA 5.1% · worse

Care nearby

Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola CampusPortola · 15 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Alliance North Valleys Health CenterReno · 21.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Loyalton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Loyalton →

Natural hazards in Loyalton

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🔥 Wildfire🏚️ Earthquakes

10Does Loyalton flood?paid flood claims since 1996 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Loyalton

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Loyalton →

Schools in Loyalton

All Loyalton schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Loyalton’s kids attend trail 61% of California’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictSierra-Plumas Joint UnifiedSchools4

Loyalton ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 199 students Loyalton High BHigh · Grades 7–12 · 165 students Sierra Pass (Continuation)High · Grades 9–12 · 5 students Sierra County Special EducationOther · Grades K–12

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.