California State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 39,287,377 Household income: $99,122 Rent: $2,036

Overview

Total population

39,287,377

Rent

$2,036

Year built

1976

Household income

$99,122

Per capita income

$49,513

Poverty rate

12%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.5%

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

39,287,377

Adults over 25

27,073,960

Total households

13,548,091

Household size

2.8 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

$99,122

Per capita income

$49,513

Poverty rate

12%

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Rent over 30% of income

52.5%

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

Housing

Rent

$2,036

Year built

1976

Households that rent

44.1%

Households that own

55.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

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

Race

White

39.7%

Black

5.4%

Asian

15.5%

Two or more races

19.2%

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

40.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

59.8%

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

82.8%

Commute time to work

29 mins

Work from home

17.2%

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

32.3%

High school graduate or GED

20.5%

Some college or associate degree

10.2%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

37.1%

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

Comparison of California with: Arizona Oregon Nevada United States

California

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

Arizona

Total population7,378,838

Rent$1,543

Year built1992

Household income$79,964

Per capita income$42,503

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Oregon

Total population4,254,293

Rent$1,525

Year built1981

Household income$83,011

Per capita income$45,612

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Nevada

Total population3,184,612

Rent$1,597

Year built1996

Household income$78,260

Per capita income$41,354

Poverty rate12.4%

Unemployment rate5.6%

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	StateCalifornia	StateArizona	StateOregon	StateNevada	CountyUnited States
Total population	39,287,377	7,378,838	4,254,293	3,184,612	334,922,499
Rent	$2,036	$1,543	$1,525	$1,597	$1,413
Year built	1976	1992	1981	1996	1980
Household income	$99,122	$79,964	$83,011	$78,260	$80,734
Per capita income	$49,513	$42,503	$45,612	$41,354	$44,673
Poverty rate	12%	12.5%	11.9%	12.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.3%	3.6%	4.2%	5.6%	4%

California is compared to its neighboring states — Arizona, Oregon and Nevada — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for California

California has about 39,287,377 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in California is $2,036, which is higher than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in California is $99,122, higher than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 12%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 55.9% of homes. About 44.1% of households in California are renters. Around 52.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1976, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 37.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in California is 5.3%, higher than the U.S. rate of 4%.

California — Rent vs Household Income

California — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in California (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,036 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 California

Annual Household Income: $99,122

💡 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 California

Estimated Rate: 12%

💡 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 California

In California, households that rent: 5,980,523 (44.1%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	5,980,523	44.1%
Owner-Occupied	7,567,568	55.9%

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 California

In California, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,138,319 (52.5%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,138,319	52.5%
Other renter households	2,842,204	47.5%
Total renter households	5,980,523	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 California

Less than High School: 8,733,794 people (32.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,541,267 people (20.5%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,759,094 people (10.2%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 10,039,805 people (37.1%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 27,073,960

📊 Unemployment Rate in California

Estimated Rate: 5.3%

💡 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%.

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.