Beckwourth, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 388, Beckwourth'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

Beckwourth is a small community located in California, within Plumas County. The total population is 388. It ranks as the 1270th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beckwourth is 65.8 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 10.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Beckwourth. 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Beckwourth, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $378,700. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $734,700. 90.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 62% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Beckwourth is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (67.5% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (6.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

54.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% higher 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 79.3%. Notably, 25.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Beckwourth, 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.