Benbow, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Benbow, California had a total population of 316, the 1313th largest community in California, with a median household income of $56,667, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 3.5%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 43% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- An exceptionally low poverty rate of 3.5% — among the lowest in California.
- Only 2.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Benbow Quick Facts
How Benbow Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 118 | 316 | No clear change (+167.8%) |
| Median home value¹ | $426,563 | $293,100 | -31.3% |
How Benbow Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 94.0%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 0.0%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 6.0%
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+)
- < High School: 11.7%
- HS Diploma: 55.6%
- Some College: 22.2%
- Associate's: 7.8%
- Bachelor's: 2.6%
- Graduate+: 0.0%
Benbow Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Humboldt County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka | 26,010 | $57,662 | 18.1% | $404,500 |
| Arcata | 18,607 | $46,713 | 27.2% | $484,600 |
| McKinleyville | 17,113 | $73,327 | 14.2% | $457,600 |
| Fortuna | 12,326 | $62,289 | 18.2% | $379,700 |
| Myrtletown | 5,322 | $60,457 | 17.2% | $453,400 |
| Humboldt Hill | 3,551 | $71,667 | 15.0% | $406,500 |
| Cutten | 3,550 | $97,225 | 12.2% | $471,300 |
| Rio Dell | 3,349 | $42,753 | 17.6% | $301,700 |
| Pine Hills | 2,875 | $78,393 | 16.1% | $487,800 |
| Bayview (Humboldt County) | 2,803 | $48,406 | 22.9% | $416,400 |
Cities Similar to Benbow
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood | 317 | N/A | N/A | 8.2% | 11.7% |
| East Orosi | 324 | N/A | N/A | 3.2% | 44.8% |
| Edna | 330 | N/A | $2,000,000+ | 75.1% | 0.0% |
| Crows Landing | 335 | N/A | $361,900 | 13.1% | 14.0% |
| Baker | 339 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 28.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 316, Benbow'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
Benbow is a small community located in California, within Humboldt County. The total population is 316. It ranks as the 1313th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Benbow is 40.2 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Benbow is $56,667. This is 43% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.5%. This is 71% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $293,100. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x. 56.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Benbow has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.0% vs 33.8%).
Education
2.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 93% 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 88.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Benbow, 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 Benbow, California?
Benbow, California has a population of 316 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Benbow, CA?
The median household income in Benbow is $56,667, which is 30% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Benbow, CA?
The poverty rate in Benbow is 3.5%. This means approximately 11 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Benbow, California?
Benbow's population is 94.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Benbow, CA?
The median home value in Benbow is $293,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.2x.
How educated is Benbow, California?
2.6% of adults (25+) in Benbow hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.