Burnt Ranch, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 318, Burnt Ranch'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

Burnt Ranch is a small community located in California, within Trinity County. The total population is 318. It ranks as the 1311th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Burnt Ranch is 45.3 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. With 35.2% of the population under 18, Burnt Ranch has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 30.2% 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 Burnt Ranch is $49,226. This is 50% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.0%. This is 125% 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 57.8%. This is 775% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $494,400. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 78.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Burnt Ranch is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (78.9% vs 33.8%).

Education

37.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher 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. Notably, 36.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Burnt Ranch, 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.