Lake of the Woods, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Lake of the Woods, California had a total population of 796, the 1127th largest community in California, with a median household income of $66,036, which is 33% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.1%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 33% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Unemployment rate of 23.7% is notably above the national average.
Lake of the Woods Quick Facts
How Lake of the Woods Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 931 | 796 | No clear change (-14.5%) |
| Median household income | $56,334 | $66,036 | No clear change (+17.2%) |
| Median home value¹ | $214,020 | $276,300 | No clear change (+29.1%) |
| Median gross rent | $889 | $1,683 | +89.4% |
How Lake of the Woods Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 84.4%
- Black: 0.0%
- Hispanic: 13.2%
- Asian: 0.0%
- Other: 0.0%
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+)
- < High School: 20.0%
- HS Diploma: 32.9%
- Some College: 21.2%
- Associate's: 7.0%
- Bachelor's: 9.0%
- Graduate+: 9.9%
Lake of the Woods 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 Lake of the Woods
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebec | 797 | N/A | $422,400 | 32.1% | 17.4% |
| Yolo | 800 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 51.5% |
| Madison | 805 | N/A | $344,400 | 4.3% | 37.8% |
| Wilseyville | 798 | $70,043 | $312,500 | 17.2% | 37.5% |
| Malaga | 780 | $62,663 | $217,500 | 8.7% | 14.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 796, Lake of the Woods'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
Lake of the Woods is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 796. It ranks as the 1127th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Lake of the Woods is 51.7 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 11.9% 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 Lake of the Woods is $66,036. This is 33% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 23.7%. This is 258% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $276,300. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 60.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake of the Woods is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (84.4% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (13.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.
Education
18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 80.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Lake of the Woods, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Lake of the Woods, California?
Lake of the Woods, California has a population of 796 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Lake of the Woods, CA?
The median household income in Lake of the Woods is $66,036, which is 18% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Lake of the Woods, CA?
The poverty rate in Lake of the Woods is 11.1%. This means approximately 88 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Lake of the Woods, California?
Lake of the Woods's population is 84.4% White, 0.0% Black, 13.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Lake of the Woods, CA?
The median home value in Lake of the Woods is $276,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is Lake of the Woods, California?
18.9% of adults (25+) in Lake of the Woods hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.