Hawthorne city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hawthorne city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 85,933. It ranks as the 97th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hawthorne city is 33.6 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hawthorne city is $72,719. This is 25% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.4%. This is 37% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 22% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $813,700. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 11.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 27.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 51% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hawthorne city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 55.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (9.5%) is well below the state average of 34.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (24.6% vs 5.3%). The Asian population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

25.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hawthorne city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.