Blythe, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Blythe, California had a total population of 17,396, the 377th largest city in California, with a median household income of $56,625, which is 43% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.9%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 43% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 8.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Unemployment rate of 11.7% is notably above the national average.
Blythe Quick Facts
How Blythe 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 | 19,643 | 17,396 | -11.4% |
| Median household income | $55,856 | $56,625 | No clear change (+1.4%) |
| Median home value¹ | $184,606 | $225,000 | +21.9% |
| Median gross rent | $946 | $938 | No clear change (-0.9%) |
How Blythe 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: 23.2%
- Black: 12.0%
- Hispanic: 58.2%
- Asian: 1.5%
- Other: 2.2%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 31.0%
- HS Diploma: 26.9%
- Some College: 25.1%
- Associate's: 8.5%
- Bachelor's: 5.1%
- Graduate+: 3.5%
Blythe Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Riverside County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | 319,069 | $91,045 | 12.2% | $584,800 |
| Moreno Valley | 211,666 | $93,222 | 11.7% | $503,700 |
| Corona | 159,670 | $109,242 | 8.7% | $700,700 |
| Murrieta | 112,064 | $114,081 | 5.4% | $639,800 |
| Temecula | 111,167 | $121,063 | 7.3% | $679,700 |
| Menifee | 110,305 | $93,454 | 9.5% | $537,300 |
| Jurupa Valley | 107,011 | $97,550 | 11.0% | $574,600 |
| Indio | 91,950 | $77,167 | 11.5% | $458,400 |
| Hemet | 91,326 | $57,719 | 14.9% | $352,200 |
| Perris | 80,511 | $88,911 | 10.7% | $474,700 |
Cities Similar to Blythe
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Woods | 17,289 | $59,269 | $394,600 | 50.9% | 14.2% |
| Kerman | 16,815 | $59,799 | $370,900 | 16.0% | 21.3% |
| Lennox | 19,449 | $57,759 | $708,000 | 10.8% | 16.4% |
| Ukiah | 16,304 | $66,160 | $458,400 | 22.1% | 17.9% |
| McKinleyville | 17,113 | $73,327 | $457,600 | 38.3% | 14.2% |
Population Overview
Blythe is a small city located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 17,396. It ranks as the 377th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Blythe is 38.3 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Blythe is $56,625. 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 18.9%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 11.7%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $225,000. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 57.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Blythe is Hispanic or Latino, making up 58.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 23.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (12.0% vs 5.2%). The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
8.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 77% 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 69.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Blythe, 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.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Blythe, California?
Blythe, California has a population of 17,396 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Blythe, CA?
The median household income in Blythe is $56,625, which is 30% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Blythe, CA?
The poverty rate in Blythe is 18.9%. This means approximately 2,180 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Blythe, California?
Blythe's population is 23.2% White, 12.0% Black, 58.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Blythe, CA?
The median home value in Blythe is $225,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x.
How educated is Blythe, California?
8.6% of adults (25+) in Blythe hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.