McFarland, California Demographics & Population 2026

Name: McFarland, California Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, McFarland, California had a total population of 14,222, the 412th largest city in California, with a median household income of $54,608, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 24.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Only 6.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.

McFarland Quick Facts

Population 14,222

Median Household Income $54,608

Median Home Value $272,700

Poverty Rate 24.1%

Unemployment Rate 7.9%

Median Age 26.3 years

Homeownership Rate 56.9%

Affordability Ratio 5.0x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 6.0%

High School Graduation Rate 59.2%

Diversity Index 22/100

Population 14,222 412th of 1,570

Median Income $54,608 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 24.1% 93% higher than national

Median Home Value $272,700 bottom 20%

How McFarland Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	14,138	14,222	+0.6%
Median household income	$51,801	$54,608	+5.4%
Median home value	$245,500	$272,700	+11.1%

How McFarland Compares

Median Household Income

McFarland

$54,608

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

McFarland

$272,700

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.3%

$25K-$50K 25.9%

$50K-$100K 31.3%

$100K+ 22.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.7%

$10K-$15K

5.3%

$15K-$20K

5.7%

$20K-$25K

4.6%

$25K-$30K

5.3%

$30K-$35K

8.3%

$35K-$40K

2.6%

$40K-$45K

5.1%

$45K-$50K

4.5%

$50K-$60K

7.5%

$60K-$75K

13.6%

$75K-$100K

10.1%

$100K-$125K

9.6%

$125K-$150K

4.4%

$150K-$200K

6.5%

$200K+

2.0%

Employment

7.9% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

60.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 56.9%

Renter 43.1%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,131/mo 24.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

35.7%

18-34

26.1%

35-54

23.4%

55-74

12.4%

75+

2.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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+)

McFarland Rankings in California

#412 Population of 1,570

#1167 Median Income of 1,375

#1391 Education of 1,570

#1183 Home Value of 1,376

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

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 McFarland

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Grass Valley	14,113	$51,764	$482,200	32.8%	22.1%
Parlier	14,507	$52,357	$256,400	5.6%	27.1%
Avenal	13,608	$54,741	$228,900	2.8%	19.1%
Red Bluff	14,549	$51,529	$299,900	11.7%	18.8%
California City	14,414	$60,113	$278,000	12.5%	22.8%

Population Overview

McFarland is a small city located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 14,222. It ranks as the 412th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in McFarland is 26.3 years. This is 31% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 35.7% of the population under 18, McFarland has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in McFarland is $54,608. This is 45% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.1%. This is 100% 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 7.9%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $272,700. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 56.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

McFarland has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 87.7% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 9.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (9.3%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (87.7% vs 40.2%). The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

6.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 84% 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 59.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for McFarland, 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 McFarland, California?

McFarland, California has a population of 14,222 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in McFarland, CA?

The median household income in McFarland is $54,608, which is 32% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in McFarland, CA?

The poverty rate in McFarland is 24.1%. This means approximately 3,348 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of McFarland, California?

McFarland's population is 9.3% White, 0.5% Black, 87.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in McFarland, CA?

The median home value in McFarland is $272,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x.

How educated is McFarland, California?

6.0% of adults (25+) in McFarland hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.