Population 39,287,377 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in California
Household size in California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in California are large by national standards, averaging 3.01 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has edged down from 3.04 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only two of the 50 states and D.C. have larger households.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.0, the median age in California is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.8, in line with the national trend.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in California (12.3%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. California has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of states.
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 California
Renters in California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in California than nationally: 44.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 33.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.5 points, mirroring the country. Few states have a higher share of renters: only two of 51.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in California: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 50 states and D.C., only three 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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in California was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in California pays $2,229 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $931 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. California has the highest rents of any state.
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 California
Bachelor's degrees in California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in California (36.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in California never finished high school, well above the national share: only 84.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 4.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. California has the lowest share of high school graduates of any state.
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 California
| Period | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in California than nationally: unemployment was 6.6%, against 5.4%. Of the 50 states and D.C., only two have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
California compared with nearby states
| State | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3.01 | 39.0 | 12.3% | 44.1% | 7.3% | 1976 | $2,229 | 36.3% | 84.2% | 6.6% |
| Nevada | 2.73 | 40.0 | 12.8% | 40.0% | 9.0% | 1995 | $1,787 | 27.5% | 87.1% | 6.9% |
| Arizona | 2.70 | 40.4 | 12.6% | 32.6% | 9.6% | 1992 | $1,736 | 33.3% | 89.1% | 5.3% |
| Utah | 3.11 | 33.1 | 8.9% | 29.8% | 7.3% | 1991 | $1,701 | 38.3% | 93.5% | 3.5% |
| Oregon | 2.50 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 36.7% | 7.4% | 1981 | $1,601 | 36.4% | 91.5% | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 2.79 | 38.2 | 9.3% | 27.9% | 9.3% | 1989 | $1,407 | 31.7% | 92.1% | 3.8% |
| New Mexico | 2.63 | 40.5 | 14.4% | 30.0% | 11.9% | 1985 | $1,188 | 30.2% | 87.5% | 6.0% |
| Washington | 2.61 | 39.6 | 10.1% | 36.2% | 7.6% | 1984 | $1,875 | 38.8% | 91.9% | 5.1% |
| Colorado | 2.54 | 39.1 | 9.3% | 33.8% | 7.3% | 1988 | $1,963 | 45.9% | 92.8% | 4.6% |
| Wyoming | 2.39 | 40.2 | 9.2% | 28.2% | 12.1% | 1981 | $1,091 | 30.6% | 94.1% | 3.8% |
| Montana | 2.44 | 41.5 | 8.8% | 30.8% | 12.2% | 1982 | $1,189 | 35.3% | 94.6% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
States with similar populations: Alaska · Hawaii · Puerto Rico · Arkansas · Florida · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Montana
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 California. 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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