Cottonwood (Kern County), California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cottonwood (Kern County) is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 3,107. It ranks as the 784th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cottonwood (Kern County) is 18.3 years. This is 52% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 49.6% of the population under 18, Cottonwood (Kern County) has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cottonwood (Kern County) is $44,247. This is 55% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 46.5%. This is 288% 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 16.0%. This is 143% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $321,600. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 16.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 71% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cottonwood (Kern County) is Hispanic or Latino, making up 72.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 21.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (2.9%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (21.0% vs 5.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (72.3% vs 40.2%).

Education

5.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 84% 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 59.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cottonwood (Kern County), 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.