California Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
State Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in California grew by 7.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 39,187,260 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
California has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in California is about 24% higher than in US.
Housing
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in California is about 27.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,955 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in California spend about 47 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 197 hours, about 8.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,449 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
California:
Inyo County (11.2 min), Del Norte County (11.7 min), Modoc County (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Contra Costa County (31.2 min), San Benito County (31.0 min), Alpine County (30.4 min).
The average commute time in California is 24 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in US.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
California has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
California:
Marin County (0.5), San Francisco County (0.4), Santa Clara County (0.4).
Lowest:
Colusa County (0.2), Merced County (0.2), Glenn County (0.2).
Health
California has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | California | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
California:
San Francisco County (0.8), San Mateo County (0.8), Santa Clara County (0.8).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.8), Imperial County (0.8), Tulare County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about California.
What is the population of California?
The population of California is 38,909,900, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of California?
The population density of California is 237.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in California?
The median household income in California is $96,718, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in California?
The median home price in California is $642,203, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in California?
The unemployment rate in California is 6.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.