China Lake Acres, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

China Lake Acres is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 2,594. It ranks as the 840th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in China Lake Acres is 36.1 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 30.1% of the population under 18, China Lake Acres has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in China Lake Acres is $68,594. This is 31% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.9%. This is 82% 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 4.7%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $160,300. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, China Lake Acres is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in China Lake Acres is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.4% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (12.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

15.1% 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 79.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for China Lake Acres, 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.