Dos Palos Y, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 273, Dos Palos Y'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

Dos Palos Y is a small community located in California, within Merced County. The total population is 273. It ranks as the 1328th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dos Palos Y is 55.5 years. This is 46% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 8.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.6% 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 Dos Palos Y is $35,368. This is 64% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 56% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 37.0%. This is 460% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. 36.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Dos Palos Y is Hispanic or Latino, making up 61.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 17.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (61.2% vs 40.2%).

Education

34.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% 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 75.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Dos Palos Y, 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.