McCloud, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 829, McCloud'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

McCloud is a small community located in California, within Siskiyou County. The total population is 829. It ranks as the 1114th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in McCloud is 58.2 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 14.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 19.5% 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 McCloud is $48,529. This is 51% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 73% 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 5.8%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $328,100. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 78.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in McCloud is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (79.7% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

22.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 94.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for McCloud, 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.