Blue Lake city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Blue Lake city is a small community located in California. The total population is 997. It ranks as the 1060th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Blue Lake city is 52.4 years. This is 39% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 12.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Blue Lake city is $52,813. This is 45% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 25.4%. This is 112% 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 unemployment rate is 10.7%. This is 67% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $460,800. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 45.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Blue Lake city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.5% vs 34.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 39.8%.

Education

37.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Blue Lake city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.