Johannesburg, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Johannesburg, California had a total population of 86, the 1474th largest community in California. The poverty rate is 33.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (33.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Unemployment rate of 25.8% is notably above the national average.
Johannesburg Quick Facts
How Johannesburg Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 77 | 86 | +11.7% |
How Johannesburg Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gazelle | 87 | $38,438 | $280,600 | 2.7% | 3.5% |
| Carmet | 85 | $93,833 | $1,475,000 | 32.9% | 0.0% |
| Stones Landing | 85 | N/A | $205,000 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Las Flores (Tehama County) | 84 | $50,543 | $239,100 | 33.3% | 0.0% |
| New Pine Creek | 84 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 86, Johannesburg's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Johannesburg is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 86. It ranks as the 1474th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Johannesburg is 50.2 years. This is 32% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 33.7%. This is 181% 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 25.8%. This is 290% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 79% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Johannesburg was recorded as Asian. A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
33.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 61.6%. Notably, 15.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Johannesburg, 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.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Johannesburg, California?
Johannesburg, California has a population of 86 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Johannesburg, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Johannesburg — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Johannesburg, CA?
The poverty rate in Johannesburg is 33.7%. This means approximately 29 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Johannesburg, California?
Johannesburg's population is 0.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 100.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Johannesburg, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Johannesburg — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Johannesburg, California?
33.7% of adults (25+) in Johannesburg hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 15.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.