Hayfork, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hayfork is a small community located in California, within Trinity County. The total population is 2,537. It ranks as the 846th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hayfork is 60.3 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 10.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.8% 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 Hayfork is $44,434. This is 55% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 44.3%. This is 269% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Hayfork, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $336,600. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 60.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hayfork has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.7% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (8.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

29.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 86.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hayfork, 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.