Mariposa, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Mariposa is a small community located in California, within Mariposa County. The total population is 1,137. It ranks as the 1029th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mariposa is 59.0 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 20.4% 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 Mariposa is $40,772. This is 59% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 49% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 37.0%. This is 208% 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 6.6%. The median home value is $270,900. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mariposa is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (79.9% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

38.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 92.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mariposa, 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.