Carson, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 92,871 Household income: $108,703 Rent: $1,956

Overview

Total population

92,871

Rent

$1,956

Year built

1966

Household income

$108,703

Per capita income

$40,282

Poverty rate

8.7%

Unemployment rate

5.5%

Household size

3.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

92,871

Adults over 25

66,475

Total households

26,974

Household size

3.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$108,703

Per capita income

$40,282

Poverty rate

8.7%

Unemployment rate

5.5%

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,956

Year built

1966

Households that rent

26%

Households that own

74%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

14.1%

Black

21.8%

Asian

27.2%

Two or more races

15.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

39.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

60.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.3%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

8.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

37.4%

High school graduate or GED

22.3%

Some college or associate degree

11%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Carson, CA with: California United States

Carson, CA

Total population92,871

Rent$1,956

Year built1966

Household income$108,703

Per capita income$40,282

Poverty rate8.7%

Unemployment rate5.5%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityCarson, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	92,871	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$1,956	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1966	1976	1980
Household income	$108,703	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$40,282	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	8.7%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.5%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Carson, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Carson, CA

Carson is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Carson, the typical monthly rent is $1,956 and the typical household income is $108,703. Rent here is similar to California and higher than the U.S., and household income is higher than both California and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 8.7%, which is lower than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 26% of households. About 50.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.5%, which is similar to California and higher than the national rate.

Carson, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Carson, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Carson, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,956	69 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$108,703	71 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	8.7%	64 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	5.5%	141 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Carson, CA

Rent

For typical rent levels, Carson is ranked 69th out of 180 major areas in California. Statewide values span from $1,148 in Porterville, CA to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Carson comes in 71st among 180 major places. Across California, income levels vary from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

In poverty comparisons, Carson ranks 64th out of 180 large places. Statewide rates vary from 4.1% in Cupertino, CA to 26.5% in Davis, CA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Carson ranks 141st out of 180 significant areas. Across California, unemployment varies from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in Carson, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,956 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Carson, CA

Annual Household Income: $108,703

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Carson, CA

Estimated Rate: 8.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Carson, CA

In Carson, CA, households that rent: 7,000 (26%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	7,000	26%
Owner-Occupied	19,974	74%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Carson, CA

In Carson, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,533 (50.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,533	50.5%
Other renter households	3,467	49.5%
Total renter households	7,000	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Carson, CA

Less than High School: 24,846 people (37.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 14,823 people (22.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 7,314 people (11%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 19,492 people (29.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 66,475

📊 Unemployment Rate in Carson, CA

Estimated Rate: 5.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

O'Fallon, MO92,697 Mount Pleasant, SC92,662 Roswell, GA92,577 Redding, CA93,268 Mission Viejo, CA92,415 Hoover, AL92,401 Bellingham, WA92,367 Compton, CA93,525 Fall River, MA93,764 South Gate, CA91,836

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.