Buena Vista, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Buena Vista, California had a total population of 493, the 1218th largest community in California, with a median household income of $72,031, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 21.4% is notably above the national average.
Buena Vista Quick Facts
How Buena Vista 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 | 624 | 493 | -21.0% |
| Median household income | $88,664 | $72,031 | -18.8% |
| Median home value | $225,000 | $233,100 | +3.6% |
How Buena Vista 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+)
Buena Vista Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Amador County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ione | 9,156 | $91,495 | 8.1% | $474,900 |
| Jackson | 5,048 | $70,239 | 10.9% | $442,700 |
| Buckhorn | 3,504 | $90,045 | 10.9% | $360,800 |
| Pine Grove | 3,040 | $89,311 | 5.9% | $412,900 |
| Sutter Creek | 2,702 | $88,478 | 7.1% | $543,800 |
| Camanche Village | 2,291 | $156,250 | 2.4% | $452,900 |
| Pioneer | 1,155 | $75,714 | 6.5% | $462,200 |
| Red Corral | 1,096 | $85,581 | 7.8% | $424,400 |
| Plymouth | 1,056 | $92,500 | 15.7% | $376,900 |
| Amador Pines | 890 | $83,958 | 2.8% | $413,800 |
Cities Similar to Buena Vista
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graeagle | 496 | N/A | $489,500 | 22.7% | 12.1% |
| Cowan | 497 | N/A | $364,300 | 8.4% | 5.5% |
| Courtland | 496 | $74,433 | $692,000 | 50.0% | 7.9% |
| Lanare | 484 | $71,429 | N/A | 0.0% | 15.5% |
| Keene | 469 | N/A | $520,800 | 36.9% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 493, Buena Vista'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
Buena Vista is a small community located in California, within Amador County. The total population is 493. It ranks as the 1218th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buena Vista is 34.9 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buena Vista is $72,031. This is 27% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 11% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Buena Vista. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The unemployment rate is 21.4%. This is 223% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $233,100. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Buena Vista has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.7% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.7% vs 33.8%).
Education
23.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista, California?
Buena Vista, California has a population of 493 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Buena Vista, CA?
The median household income in Buena Vista is $72,031, which is 11% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Buena Vista, CA?
The ACS sample for Buena Vista recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Buena Vista, California?
Buena Vista's population is 90.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Buena Vista, CA?
The median home value in Buena Vista is $233,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.
How educated is Buena Vista, California?
23.7% of adults (25+) in Buena Vista hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.