The Fresno metro area: Fresno and Madera counties · Population 1,177,665 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Fresno area
Household size in the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.29 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.31 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.27 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.25 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in the Fresno area are large by national standards, averaging 3.25 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 3.29, mirroring the country. Few large metro areas have larger households: only five of 100.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.1 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.9 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.5, the Fresno area is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.4, in line with the national trend. Few large metro areas are younger: only four of 100.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in six households in the Fresno area (17.7%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Only two of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have a higher 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 the Fresno area
Renters in the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in the Fresno area than nationally: 43.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. More than a third of owners (37.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.0 points, even as the national share rose. Few large metro areas have a higher share of renters: only five of 100.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Fresno area: 6.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. California comes in at about the same level. Vacancy has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in the Fresno area are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in California overall, where the median home dates to 1976. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. 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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,042 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,170 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,635 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$667 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Fresno area pays $1,635 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rents are up $667 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.6% of the typical renter's income, 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 the Fresno area
Bachelor's degrees in the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in the Fresno area: 23.1% 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 4.4 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only two have a lower share of college graduates.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.6% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.0% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.4% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 77.5% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in the Fresno area never finished high school, well above the national share: only 77.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few large metro areas have a lower share of high school graduates: only two of 100.
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 the Fresno area
| Period | Fresno area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Fresno area runs well above the national rate: 9.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. The Fresno area has the highest unemployment rate of any large metro area. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.7 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Largest cities in the Fresno area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno area (all) | 3.25 | 34.5 | 17.7% | 43.0% | 6.8% | 1984 | $1,635 | 23.1% | 77.5% | 9.0% |
| Clovis | 2.98 | 37.1 | 13.2% | 36.2% | 5.4% | 1993 | $2,168 | 36.6% | 91.4% | 5.6% |
| Madera | 3.91 | 31.5 | 22.7% | 42.4% | 8.0% | 1989 | $1,595 | 13.6% | 64.1% | 12.1% |
| Sanger | 3.56 | 33.5 | 18.6% | 31.8% | 8.2% | 1985 | $1,457 | 17.5% | 76.6% | 8.0% |
| Reedley | 3.45 | 35.0 | 17.4% | 43.8% | 5.7% | 1984 | $1,364 | 17.3% | 70.4% | 12.2% |
| Selma | 3.53 | 34.2 | 23.4% | 41.4% | 8.7% | 1986 | $1,493 | 9.6% | 69.8% | 11.1% |
| Chowchilla | 3.34 | 34.0 | 19.7% | 45.9% | 8.2% | 1987 | $1,385 | 18.3% | 75.3% | 8.6% |
| Kerman | 3.28 | 32.7 | 16.1% | 47.9% | 5.9% | 1991 | $1,307 | 15.4% | 63.4% | 8.4% |
| Kingsburg | 3.08 | 38.3 | 12.9% | 33.0% | 8.4% | 1980 | $1,393 | 21.1% | 85.1% | 6.1% |
| Parlier | 3.99 | 29.0 | 27.1% | 52.0% | 7.8% | 1990 | $1,226 | 7.1% | 57.1% | 10.3% |
| Mendota | 3.78 | 27.1 | 28.5% | 57.4% | 3.5% | 1993 | $1,036 | 5.4% | 43.4% | 12.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Tulsa area · Honolulu area · Tucson area · Rochester area · Grand Rapids area · Buffalo area · Birmingham area · Hartford area · Salt Lake City area · Richmond area
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 the Fresno area. 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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