Glen Ellen, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Glen Ellen is a small community located in California, within Sonoma County. The total population is 1,078. It ranks as the 1044th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Glen Ellen is 59.3 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 2.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.7% 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 Glen Ellen is $202,097. This is 104% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 150% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.0%. This is 116% 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 4.1%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,371,400. Housing costs are 87% 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. 64.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Glen Ellen has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.1% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (7.0%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

73.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Glen Ellen in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 98% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 34.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Glen Ellen, 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.