Loyalton, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 748, Loyalton'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

Loyalton is a small community located in California, within Sierra County. The total population is 748. It ranks as the 1140th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Loyalton is 45.0 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 12.8% 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 Loyalton is $65,556. This is 34% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.7%. This is 61% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $191,800. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Loyalton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 71% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Loyalton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (86.2% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.8%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

28.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% 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 88.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Loyalton, 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.