Golden Hills, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Golden Hills, California had a total population of 9,891, the 500th largest community in California, with a median household income of $95,669, which is 3% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.5%.
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 11.6% is notably above the national average.
Golden Hills Quick Facts
How Golden Hills Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,351 | 9,891 | No clear change (+5.8%) |
| Median household income | $79,826 | $95,669 | No clear change (+19.8%) |
| Median home value¹ | $321,215 | $410,300 | +27.7% |
| Median gross rent | $1,275 | $1,377 | No clear change (+8.0%) |
How Golden Hills Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 62.2%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 30.3%
- Asian: 1.6%
- Other: 2.4%
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 8.7%
- HS Diploma: 29.0%
- Some College: 23.9%
- Associate's: 8.4%
- Bachelor's: 20.4%
- Graduate+: 9.6%
Golden Hills Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Kern County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 411,986 | $80,540 | 16.3% | $371,700 |
| Delano | 51,679 | $67,010 | 16.0% | $301,900 |
| Oildale | 34,687 | $51,298 | 25.2% | $238,800 |
| East Niles | 28,532 | $55,124 | 28.7% | $251,500 |
| Ridgecrest | 28,225 | $89,250 | 12.5% | $253,900 |
| Wasco | 26,558 | $51,727 | 18.4% | $273,600 |
| Rosamond | 21,473 | $79,386 | 17.1% | $352,600 |
| Shafter | 21,193 | $71,215 | 20.7% | $335,800 |
| Arvin | 19,539 | $49,183 | 34.6% | $262,700 |
| Rosedale | 18,877 | $135,966 | 6.4% | $608,900 |
Cities Similar to Golden Hills
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Vista | 10,102 | $89,306 | $489,700 | 31.5% | 10.3% |
| Capitola | 9,689 | $102,976 | $783,000 | 47.9% | 12.9% |
| Home Gardens | 10,506 | $96,342 | $538,700 | 16.6% | 6.2% |
| Lake Arrowhead | 10,639 | $95,236 | $596,500 | 37.9% | 11.1% |
| Morro Bay | 10,692 | $95,843 | $918,200 | 48.5% | 8.5% |
Population Overview
Golden Hills is a small city located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 9,891. It ranks as the 500th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Golden Hills is 37.3 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Golden Hills is $95,669. This is 3% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 18% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 46% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 11.6%. This is 75% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $410,300. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 82.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 47% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Golden Hills is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 30.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (62.2% vs 33.8%). The Asian population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
30.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% 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 91.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Golden Hills, 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 Golden Hills, California?
Golden Hills, California has a population of 9,891 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Golden Hills, CA?
The median household income in Golden Hills is $95,669, which is 18% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Golden Hills, CA?
The poverty rate in Golden Hills is 17.5%. This means approximately 1,736 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Golden Hills, California?
Golden Hills's population is 62.2% White, 0.0% Black, 30.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Golden Hills, CA?
The median home value in Golden Hills is $410,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.
How educated is Golden Hills, California?
30.0% of adults (25+) in Golden Hills hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.