Bodfish, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bodfish, California had a total population of 1,694, the 930th largest community in California, with a median household income of $39,863, which is 60% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 31.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 60% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (31.5%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Unemployment rate of 17.3% is notably above the national average.
Bodfish Quick Facts
How Bodfish Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,191 | 1,694 | -22.7% |
| Median household income | $33,295 | $39,863 | +19.7% |
| Median home value | $104,700 | $145,800 | +39.3% |
How Bodfish Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
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+)
Bodfish Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Kern County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 411,986 | $80,540 | 16.3% | $371,700 |
| Delano | 51,679 | $67,010 | 16.0% | $301,900 |
| Oildale | 34,687 | $51,298 | 25.2% | $238,800 |
| East Niles | 28,532 | $55,124 | 28.7% | $251,500 |
| Ridgecrest | 28,225 | $89,250 | 12.5% | $253,900 |
| Wasco | 26,558 | $51,727 | 18.4% | $273,600 |
| Rosamond | 21,473 | $79,386 | 17.1% | $352,600 |
| Shafter | 21,193 | $71,215 | 20.7% | $335,800 |
| Arvin | 19,539 | $49,183 | 34.6% | $262,700 |
| Rosedale | 18,877 | $135,966 | 6.4% | $608,900 |
Cities Similar to Bodfish
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal | 1,800 | N/A | $187,000 | 8.7% | 19.3% |
| Middletown | 1,572 | N/A | $403,900 | 14.4% | 8.1% |
| Le Grand | 1,636 | $45,938 | $286,000 | 10.8% | 16.0% |
| Casa Loma | 1,587 | $43,403 | $256,100 | 8.1% | 30.8% |
| Los Molinos | 1,604 | $35,000 | $226,300 | 9.3% | 34.4% |
Population Overview
Bodfish is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 1,694. It ranks as the 930th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Bodfish is 56.3 years. This is 49% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 10.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Bodfish is $39,863. This is 60% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.5%. This is 162% 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 17.3%. This is 162% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $145,800. Housing costs are 80% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Bodfish is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.0% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.
Education
15.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% 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 88.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Bodfish, 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 Bodfish, California?
Bodfish, California has a population of 1,694 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Bodfish, CA?
The median household income in Bodfish is $39,863, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Bodfish, CA?
The poverty rate in Bodfish is 31.5%. This means approximately 533 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Bodfish, California?
Bodfish's population is 85.0% White, 0.0% Black, 5.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Bodfish, CA?
The median home value in Bodfish is $145,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x.
How educated is Bodfish, California?
15.3% of adults (25+) in Bodfish hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.