Humboldt County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Humboldt County is located in California with a total population of 135,418. It is the 35th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Humboldt County is 39.6 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Humboldt County is $61,135. This is 37% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 22% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 58% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.7%. This is 36% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $418,800. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 56.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Humboldt County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (70.2% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (13.8%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

32.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% 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 91.5%.