Lake Wildwood, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lake Wildwood is a small community located in California, within Nevada County. The total population is 4,792. It ranks as the 673rd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake Wildwood is 57.3 years. This is 51% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 19.8% 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 Lake Wildwood is $85,771. This is 13% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 6% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.2%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $551,800. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 84.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 52% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake Wildwood is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (74.8% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (15.8%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

45.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 23% higher 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 96.2%. Notably, 19.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lake Wildwood, 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.