California
With a population of 39M, California is the #1 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 58 counties. The median age of residents is 37.9 years. Households earn a median income of $99,122, 32% above the national median, with a poverty rate of 12.0% and a median home value of $734,700.
Demographics
California has a population of 39M, making it the #1 most populous state. The median age is 37.9 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in California is $99,122, ranking #6 among all states. The poverty rate is 12.0% and unemployment stands at 6.6%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in California is $734,700. Renters pay a median of $2,036/mo and the homeownership rate is 55.9%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In California, 37.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 10.0% above the national average, ranking #16 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in California is 79.4 years. 18.3% of adults report poor or fair health and 7.5% lack health insurance. 93.4% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
11.4% of adults in California smoke , 28.4% are obese , and 20.1% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 26.1 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in California is 5.3 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 10.4 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 11.0 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
14.6% of children in California live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 4.0 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 11.3 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in California is 67.7%. The mean commute time is 31.5 min, which is 14.2% above the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, California voted Democratic with a margin of 20.2%. The vote was 58.5% Dem / 38.3% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 9.0 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in California
California has 58 counties. The highest median income county is Santa Clara County at $164,281.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | Santa Clara County | $164,281 |
| 2 | San Mateo County | $158,855 |
| 3 | Marin County | $149,091 |
| 4 | San Francisco County | $140,970 |
| 5 | Alameda County | $129,367 |
| 6 | Contra Costa County | $127,229 |
| 7 | Orange County | $116,289 |
| 8 | Placer County | $115,998 |
| 9 | San Benito County | $114,394 |
| 10 | Napa County | $111,471 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 58 | Trinity County | $53,002 |
| 57 | Imperial County | $57,681 |
| 56 | Siskiyou County | $59,095 |
| 55 | Modoc County | $59,455 |
| 54 | Lake County | $60,621 |
| 53 | Humboldt County | $61,160 |
| 52 | Sierra County | $63,355 |
| 51 | Tehama County | $63,784 |
| 50 | Merced County | $65,510 |
| 49 | Plumas County | $66,031 |
All 58 Counties
About California
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.