Lake County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lake County is located in California with a total population of 68,139. It is the 40th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake County is 44.2 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake County is $58,738. This is 39% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 11.5%. This is 79% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $316,800. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 70.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 65.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (65.3% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

17.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% 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 87.1%.