Population 42,678 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Atwater
Household size in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.26 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.39 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Atwater are large by national standards, averaging 3.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 3.27, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.2 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.7 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Atwater is young: half of its residents are under 33.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.0, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Atwater (17.1%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Atwater has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Atwater
Renters in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.7% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.8% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Atwater than nationally: 43.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. About a third of owners (34.2%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northeast; owners are most common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.5 points, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Atwater: just 3.8% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 9.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 49 have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Atwater is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $933 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $921 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $998 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,353 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$419 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Atwater pays $1,353 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $419 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Atwater
Bachelor's degrees in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Atwater: 15.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.5% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 74.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Atwater never finished high school, well above the national share: only 74.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Atwater has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five California cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Atwater
| Period | Atwater | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Atwater runs well above the national rate: 11.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 39 have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.2 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Atwater compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater | 3.39 | 33.7 | 17.1% | 43.8% | 3.8% | 1984 | $1,353 | 15.1% | 74.3% | 11.8% |
| Castle Garden | 3.07 | 38.0 | 16.2% | 21.1% | 5.4% | 1991 | $1,402 | 19.1% | 79.7% | 7.2% |
| Winton | 3.49 | 29.7 | 16.4% | 47.3% | 4.5% | 1983 | $1,198 | 7.8% | 63.5% | 11.8% |
| McSwain | 3.89 | 36.7 | 12.4% | 13.3% | 1.1% | 1998 | $1,491 | 43.6% | 91.8% | 1.6% |
| Cressey | 3.47 | 35.3 | 12.1% | 41.5% | 17.2% | 1975 | $1,303 | 10.2% | 63.8% | 10.3% |
| Merced | 3.41 | 31.0 | 22.1% | 50.8% | 7.4% | 1985 | $1,581 | 19.6% | 76.2% | 11.6% |
| Livingston | 3.81 | 35.9 | 19.7% | 41.3% | 5.6% | 1984 | $1,592 | 10.2% | 51.6% | 6.4% |
| Buhach | 3.06 | 22.6 | 22.9% | 37.8% | 9.6% | 2003 | $1,582 | 41.5% | 92.0% | 18.0% |
| Ballico | 3.28 | 31.8 | 19.0% | 50.0% | 7.9% | 1969 | $1,231 | 14.8% | 68.4% | 10.5% |
| Delhi | 3.64 | 30.7 | 13.5% | 34.1% | 3.3% | 1988 | $1,293 | 16.3% | 69.0% | 10.2% |
| Tuttle | 3.72 | 35.7 | 6.8% | 35.2% | 13.4% | 1988 | $1,039 | 31.3% | 81.7% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Oak Harbor, WA · Aguadilla, PR · Gillette, WY · West Hollywood, CA · Howell, NJ · Fitchburg, MA · Wooster, OH · Glen Ellyn, IL · Rockledge, FL · Maplewood, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Atwater. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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