Population 9,988 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Penn Valley
Household size in Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.18 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Penn Valley run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has climbed from 2.26 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.4 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 54.9 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Penn Valley skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 54.4, even as the national median rose. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 are older.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Penn Valley: 3.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national share fell. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Penn Valley
Renters in Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.1% of households in Penn Valley rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (45.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 6.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only 45 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of renters.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Penn Valley than nationally: 11.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Penn Valley was built around 1984, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in California overall, where the median home dates to 1976. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,368 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,388 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,681 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,140 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$772 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Penn Valley pays $2,140 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $772 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the east.
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 Penn Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Penn Valley (37.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the east.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.1% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.4% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Penn Valley: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has fallen 3.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Penn Valley
| Period | Penn Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Penn Valley has been strong: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other California city with 5,000+ people has lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.7 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).
Penn Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Valley | 2.44 | 53.4 | 3.8% | 15.1% | 11.2% | 1984 | $2,140 | 37.3% | 94.6% | 1.5% |
| Rough And Ready | 2.26 | 60.8 | 4.8% | 9.1% | 7.0% | 1986 | $1,630 | 38.7% | 94.7% | 2.9% |
| Smartville | 2.61 | 42.9 | 2.7% | 13.0% | 9.1% | 1993 | $2,021 | 31.3% | 94.3% | 0.6% |
| Grass Valley | 2.35 | 50.2 | 10.3% | 34.0% | 9.4% | 1978 | $1,644 | 32.8% | 94.0% | 7.0% |
| Sweetland | 2.33 | 49.8 | 2.3% | 24.0% | 2.6% | 1979 | $1,012 | 29.6% | 94.6% | 4.9% |
| Oregon House | 2.35 | 50.5 | 10.5% | 18.9% | 22.7% | 1988 | $1,617 | 26.1% | 91.7% | 1.0% |
| Browns Valley | 2.30 | 54.4 | 1.8% | 5.7% | 12.6% | 1992 | $1,734 | 23.6% | 93.5% | 5.3% |
| Alta Sierra | 2.41 | 49.7 | 6.3% | 13.2% | 5.7% | 1983 | $1,927 | 38.2% | 96.4% | 3.4% |
| Dobbins | 2.26 | 52.4 | 22.5% | 18.0% | 22.5% | 1984 | $1,309 | 20.6% | 85.8% | 5.1% |
| Nevada City | 2.36 | 53.3 | 7.6% | 20.1% | 17.5% | 1980 | $1,741 | 44.8% | 94.5% | 4.6% |
| Beale Afb | 2.53 | 26.0 | 3.0% | 73.6% | 7.4% | 2002 | $2,297 | 31.6% | 97.5% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hamburg, PA · Hebron, TX · Hebron, IN · Heber Springs, AR · Heath, TX · Hawthorn Woods, IL · Havana, FL · Hastings-on-Hudson, NY · Hartsville, TN · Harrison, MI
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 Penn Valley. 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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