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Modoc County, California Demographics 2026

Modoc County, California has a population of 8,600, the 56th most populous county in California. The median household income is $59,455 and the median home value is $224,700. The poverty rate is 17.9%.

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

Modoc County Quick Facts

Population 8,600
Median Household Income $59,455
Median Home Value $224,700
Poverty Rate 17.9%
Unemployment Rate 7.6%
Median Age 47.5 years
Homeownership Rate 77.4%
Affordability Ratio 3.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.8%
High School Graduation 86.7%
Cities/Places 12
Population 8,600 56th of 58
Median Income $59,455 40% lower than state
Poverty Rate 17.9%
Unemployment 7.6%

How Modoc County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population8,6468,600-0.5%
Median household income$56,648$59,455+5.0%
Median home value$212,000$224,700+6.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.1%
$25K-$50K 23.2%
$50K-$100K 33.1%
$100K+ 24.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.8%
$10K-$15K
2.1%
$15K-$20K
4.0%
$20K-$25K
7.2%
$25K-$30K
2.4%
$30K-$35K
2.6%
$35K-$40K
7.0%
$40K-$45K
6.0%
$45K-$50K
5.3%
$50K-$60K
7.9%
$60K-$75K
13.8%
$75K-$100K
11.3%
$100K-$125K
10.8%
$125K-$150K
4.3%
$150K-$200K
4.4%
$200K+
5.1%

Employment

7.6% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
47.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.4%
Renter 22.6%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $836/mo 16.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

41out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Modoc County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Alturas2,681$59,89618.0%$170,100
Cedarville575$52,10514.9%$246,400
Newell472$36,6209.8%N/A
California Pines427$66,32822.5%$292,900
Canby259N/A92.1%N/A
Fort Bidwell190N/A17.3%$168,100
Adin153$29,3754.6%$117,300
Daphnedale Park106N/A0.0%N/A
New Pine Creek84N/A0.0%N/A
Lookout49$140,5680.0%N/A
Lake City39N/A0.0%$232,700
Eagleville33$81,2500.0%$88,500

Population Overview

Modoc County is located in California with a total population of 8,600. It is the 56th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Modoc County is 47.5 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 12.6% 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 Modoc County is $59,455. This is 40% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 26% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.9%. This is 49% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $224,700. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 77.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Modoc County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (74.8% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (15.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

24.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 86.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Modoc County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Modoc County, California?

Modoc County has a population of 8,600, making it the 56th most populous county in California.

What is the median income in Modoc County?

The median household income in Modoc County is $59,455 with a poverty rate of 17.9%.

How many cities are in Modoc County, California?

Modoc County contains 12 Census-designated places.