Downieville, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Downieville, California had a total population of 126, the 1436th largest community in California. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Downieville Quick Facts
How Downieville Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 174 | 126 | -27.6% |
How Downieville Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Downieville Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Sierra County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalton | 748 | $65,556 | 4.7% | $191,800 |
| Sierra Brooks | 397 | N/A | 17.1% | $333,100 |
| Calpine | 356 | N/A | 0.0% | $435,700 |
| Sierraville | 351 | N/A | 0.6% | N/A |
| Sierra City | 250 | $95,696 | 3.2% | $381,700 |
| Goodyears Bar | 122 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Verdi | 70 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Pike | 34 | N/A | 11.8% | N/A |
| Alleghany | 19 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Downieville
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wawona | 125 | $70,353 | $750,000 | 51.2% | 0.0% |
| El Rancho | 128 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 40.6% |
| Oak Shores | 128 | $66,750 | $525,000 | 14.8% | 33.6% |
| Gold Mountain | 124 | N/A | N/A | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Washington | 129 | N/A | $323,900 | 13.2% | 23.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 126, Downieville'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
Downieville is a small community located in California, within Sierra County. The total population is 126. It ranks as the 1436th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Downieville is 46.6 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 15.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Downieville. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Downieville, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 57.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Downieville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 33.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (60.3% vs 33.8%).
Education
16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% 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 57.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Downieville, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Downieville, California?
Downieville, California has a population of 126 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Downieville, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Downieville — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Downieville, CA?
The ACS sample for Downieville recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Downieville, California?
Downieville's population is 60.3% White, 6.3% Black, 33.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Downieville, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Downieville — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Downieville, California?
16.1% of adults (25+) in Downieville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.