Population 291 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Valley Ford
Household size in Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.81 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.55 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Valley Ford holds 2.81 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in California as a whole, where it has 3.01 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.26, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.4 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.2 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Valley Ford skews older: half of its residents are older than 54.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Valley Ford than nationally: 13.1%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of California.
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 Valley Ford
Renters in Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Valley Ford is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 34.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Valley Ford: 21.8% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −8 | +4 | +6 |
Valley Ford is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,096 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,089 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,793 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,132 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,037 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Valley Ford runs $2,132 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of California. The typical renter here spends 25.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Valley Ford
Bachelor's degrees in Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.8% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Valley Ford is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (48.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.6% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.5% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Valley Ford is close to the national rate: 88.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California as a whole (84.2%).
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 Valley Ford
| Period | Valley Ford | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Valley Ford: 9.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Valley Ford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Ford | 2.81 | 54.0 | 13.1% | 14.1% | 21.8% | 1969 | $2,132 | 48.2% | 88.5% | 9.7% |
| Bodega | 2.68 | 57.4 | 7.3% | 13.4% | 31.8% | 1975 | $1,634 | 62.4% | 95.8% | 4.1% |
| Fallon | 2.67 | 43.1 | 1.8% | 34.0% | 53.1% | 1976 | $3,501 | 51.5% | 89.4% | 0.7% |
| Dillon Beach | 2.67 | 43.1 | 1.8% | 34.0% | 53.1% | 1976 | $3,501 | 51.5% | 89.4% | 0.7% |
| Tomales | 2.50 | 46.9 | 2.7% | 35.6% | 45.2% | 1966 | $2,967 | 50.9% | 91.4% | 2.0% |
| Occidental | 2.24 | 57.8 | 1.5% | 23.3% | 37.8% | 1967 | $1,601 | 56.4% | 95.1% | 4.9% |
| Bodega Bay | 1.99 | 58.7 | 9.8% | 28.4% | 53.8% | 1975 | $1,642 | 51.8% | 92.5% | 9.1% |
| Sebastopol | 2.43 | 51.4 | 11.3% | 27.9% | 7.7% | 1971 | $1,960 | 49.1% | 94.4% | 4.6% |
| Salmon Creek | 1.22 | 67.9 | 2.8% | 28.6% | 61.4% | 1978 | $1,279 | 52.4% | 93.3% | 0.0% |
| Graton | 2.41 | 51.6 | 12.6% | 23.8% | 5.5% | 1971 | $2,585 | 48.5% | 95.4% | 3.2% |
| Carmet | 1.17 | 67.8 | 2.5% | 25.2% | 61.2% | 1977 | $1,239 | 51.9% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pullman, WV · Peoria, OR · Percilla, TX · Perote, AL · Petroleum, KY · Petronia, AL · Phelps, MN · Philadelphia, IN · Piedmont Springs, AL · Pigeon Hill, ME
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 Valley Ford. 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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