Bear Valley (Mariposa County), California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 214, Bear Valley (Mariposa County)'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 Valley (Mariposa County) is a small community located in California, within Mariposa County. The total population is 214. It ranks as the 1367th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bear Valley (Mariposa County) is 57.5 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 17.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 67% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Bear Valley (Mariposa County), which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $584,800. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $734,700. 62.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bear Valley (Mariposa County) is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (60.3% vs 33.8%).

Education

10.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 75.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bear Valley (Mariposa County), 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.