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Contra Costa County, California Demographics 2026

Contra Costa County, California has a population of 1,165,012, the 9th most populous county in California. The median household income is $127,229 and the median home value is $866,800. The poverty rate is 8.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Contra Costa County Quick Facts

Population 1,165,012
Median Household Income $127,229
Median Home Value $866,800
Poverty Rate 8.4%
Unemployment Rate 6.5%
Median Age 40.5 years
Homeownership Rate 68.0%
Affordability Ratio 6.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 45.2%
High School Graduation 89.6%
Cities/Places 53
Population 1,165,012 9th of 58
Median Income $127,229 28% higher than state
Poverty Rate 8.4%
Unemployment 6.5%

How Contra Costa County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,161,4581,165,012+0.3%
Median household income$125,727$127,229+1.2%
Median home value$830,800$866,800+4.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.7%
$25K-$50K 9.9%
$50K-$100K 21.1%
$100K+ 60.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.4%
$10K-$15K
1.9%
$15K-$20K
1.7%
$20K-$25K
1.7%
$25K-$30K
1.9%
$30K-$35K
2.0%
$35K-$40K
2.1%
$40K-$45K
2.1%
$45K-$50K
1.8%
$50K-$60K
4.3%
$60K-$75K
6.6%
$75K-$100K
10.3%
$100K-$125K
9.5%
$125K-$150K
8.0%
$150K-$200K
13.4%
$200K+
29.4%

Employment

6.5% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
64.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 68.0%
Renter 32.0%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,375/mo 22.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

73out of 100
Very High Diversity

This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Contra Costa County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Concord124,035$108,7098.2%$797,600
Antioch116,477$97,46511.4%$629,700
Richmond115,505$95,39113.6%$668,200
San Ramon85,993$196,1614.4%$1,509,500
Pittsburg76,257$99,86111.2%$597,900
Walnut Creek70,088$130,4326.4%$1,057,300
Brentwood65,208$142,4948.3%$836,600
Oakley45,183$137,6776.1%$660,200
Danville43,401$232,2163.8%$1,681,700
Martinez36,903$127,3556.3%$859,800
Pleasant Hill34,235$145,0297.3%$1,077,100
San Pablo31,720$79,47812.6%$551,700
Hercules26,302$129,3975.6%$769,400
El Cerrito25,994$127,8766.9%$1,124,400
Lafayette25,285$228,2502.9%$2,000,000+
Bay Point24,231$82,56514.4%$525,000
Orinda19,514$250,000+2.2%$1,863,200
Pinole18,761$127,7176.9%$718,600
Moraga16,769$216,1937.3%$1,663,200
El Sobrante (Contra Costa County)16,294$114,85311.4%$758,800
Discovery Bay14,911$147,1177.4%$832,000
Alamo14,488$250,000+2.1%$2,000,000+
Clayton10,937$175,7072.5%$1,055,200
Blackhawk10,137$245,2085.6%$2,000,000+
Rodeo8,976$91,4848.4%$663,200
Contra Costa Centre6,893$121,31310.1%$733,300
Camino Tassajara5,831$250,000+6.5%$2,000,000+
Saranap5,662$157,3474.1%$1,453,300
Kensington5,179$237,1303.6%$1,539,000
Tara Hills4,840$101,7478.6%$661,200
Pacheco4,325$101,21013.2%$343,300
San Miguel (Contra Costa County)3,967$250,000+1.8%$1,649,100
North Richmond3,855$100,6734.5%$623,900
Rollingwood3,627$99,83014.7%$600,000
Vine Hill3,540$115,31310.3%$631,900
Crockett3,372$110,89911.2%$776,100
Reliez Valley3,173$249,8645.3%$1,740,200
East Richmond Heights3,109$134,6325.3%$915,400
Bayview (Contra Costa County)2,751$162,5379.0%$654,900
Mountain View2,418$94,04611.0%$590,100
Knightsen2,264$177,2323.8%$953,000
Montalvin Manor2,063$79,5429.4%$438,600
Bethel Island1,864$74,97234.6%$682,700
Byron1,837$76,42415.4%$750,000
Diablo1,232$248,15013.2%$2,000,000+
Castle Hill1,026$250,000+0.2%$2,000,000+
Norris Canyon1,014$250,000+1.8%$2,000,000+
Acalanes Ridge1,006$181,0941.5%$1,633,100
Alhambra Valley979$206,06319.9%$1,249,100
North Gate806$208,5254.1%$1,674,700
Shell Ridge746$250,000+1.9%$1,912,000
Clyde653$134,0506.9%$649,200
Port Costa296$38,9290.0%$600,000

Population Overview

Contra Costa County is located in California with a total population of 1,165,012. It is the 9th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 53 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Contra Costa County is 40.5 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Contra Costa County is $127,229. This is 28% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 58% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 30% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $866,800. Housing costs are 18% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 68.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Contra Costa County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 27.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.0% vs 5.2%).

Education

45.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Contra Costa County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 22% higher 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 89.6%. Notably, 17.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Contra Costa County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Contra Costa County, California?

Contra Costa County has a population of 1,165,012, making it the 9th most populous county in California.

What is the median income in Contra Costa County?

The median household income in Contra Costa County is $127,229 with a poverty rate of 8.4%.

How many cities are in Contra Costa County, California?

Contra Costa County contains 53 Census-designated places.