Brawley city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Brawley city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 26,934. It ranks as the 285th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brawley city is 30.8 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 37.6 years. With 30.2% of the population under 18, Brawley city has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brawley city is $60,370. This is 37% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 75% 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 15.4%. This is 141% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $270,100. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 53.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Brawley city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 85.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 12.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (12.0%) is well below the state average of 34.6%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (85.0% vs 39.8%). The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

13.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% lower 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 74.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Brawley 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.