Bear Creek, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bear Creek, California had a total population of 346, the 1290th largest community in California, with a median household income of $153,088, which is 54% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 54% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in California.
- Only 9.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Unemployment rate of 8.3% is notably above the national average.
Bear Creek Quick Facts
How Bear Creek Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 231 | 346 | +49.8% |
How Bear Creek Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Bear Creek Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Merced County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | 91,953 | $63,122 | 23.9% | $372,600 |
| Los Banos | 47,593 | $68,171 | 17.3% | $440,900 |
| Atwater | 32,162 | $64,472 | 20.9% | $363,400 |
| Livingston | 14,606 | $74,494 | 17.1% | $372,700 |
| Winton | 11,797 | $57,015 | 14.0% | $339,400 |
| Delhi | 11,009 | $67,500 | 15.5% | $349,700 |
| Franklin (Merced County) | 7,392 | $58,295 | 22.9% | $308,200 |
| Gustine | 6,133 | $59,532 | 4.0% | $441,700 |
| Hilmar-Irwin | 6,132 | $79,948 | 12.8% | $449,600 |
| McSwain | 5,783 | $139,131 | 17.1% | $690,100 |
Cities Similar to Bear Creek
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling City | 344 | N/A | $265,100 | 0.0% | 10.5% |
| Sierraville | 351 | N/A | N/A | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Baker | 339 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 28.4% |
| Bombay Beach | 356 | N/A | $93,500 | 15.6% | 54.8% |
| Calpine | 356 | N/A | $435,700 | 15.3% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 346, Bear Creek's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Bear Creek is a small community located in California, within Merced County. The total population is 346. It ranks as the 1290th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bear Creek is 31.6 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 28.3% of the population under 18, Bear Creek has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bear Creek is $153,088. This is 54% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 90% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Bear Creek. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 8.3%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bear Creek is Hispanic or Latino, making up 80.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 13.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (13.0%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (80.3% vs 40.2%).
Education
9.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 76% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bear Creek, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Bear Creek, California?
Bear Creek, California has a population of 346 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bear Creek, CA?
The median household income in Bear Creek is $153,088, which is 90% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bear Creek, CA?
The ACS sample for Bear Creek recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Bear Creek, California?
Bear Creek's population is 13.0% White, 6.7% Black, 80.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bear Creek, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Bear Creek — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Bear Creek, California?
9.0% of adults (25+) in Bear Creek hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.