Skip to main content

Palo Cedro, California Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Palo Cedro, California had a total population of 3,685, the 732nd largest community in California, with a median household income of $120,152, which is 21% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 6.6%.

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

Palo Cedro Quick Facts

Population 3,685
Median Household Income $120,152
Median Home Value $551,600
Poverty Rate 6.6%
Unemployment Rate 5.8%
Median Age 41.6 years
Homeownership Rate 91.0%
Affordability Ratio 4.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.6%
High School Graduation Rate 96.5%
Diversity Index 21/100
Population 3,685 732nd of 1,570
Median Income $120,152 top 30%
Poverty Rate 6.6% 47% lower than national
Median Home Value $551,600 average

How Palo Cedro 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
Population3,5613,685+3.5%
Median household income$118,542$120,152+1.4%
Median home value$529,900$551,600+4.1%

How Palo Cedro Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.7%
$25K-$50K 11.7%
$50K-$100K 15.2%
$100K+ 60.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.7%
$10K-$15K
0.7%
$15K-$20K
3.0%
$20K-$25K
1.2%
$25K-$30K
2.1%
$30K-$35K
1.6%
$35K-$40K
1.1%
$40K-$45K
0.4%
$45K-$50K
6.5%
$50K-$60K
4.2%
$60K-$75K
2.7%
$75K-$100K
8.3%
$100K-$125K
12.8%
$125K-$150K
10.6%
$150K-$200K
10.6%
$200K+
26.4%

Employment

5.8% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
61.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 91.0%
Renter 9.0%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,375/mo 13.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

21out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Palo Cedro Rankings in California

#732 Population of 1,570
#355 Median Income of 1,375
#461 Education of 1,570
#698 Home Value of 1,376

Other Cities in Shasta County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Redding 93,409 $70,466 14.1% $382,300
Anderson 11,255 $47,375 21.2% $283,000
Shasta Lake 10,311 $67,401 13.3% $294,400
Cottonwood (Shasta County) 7,408 $95,577 8.7% $363,000
Happy Valley 5,944 $92,222 8.9% $334,100
Bella Vista 4,511 $90,566 6.0% $464,300
Burney 2,668 $65,969 19.0% $234,100
Shingletown 2,164 $66,635 10.4% $235,900
Centerville (Shasta County) 1,954 $122,500 4.3% $595,900
Shasta 1,387 $111,250 8.7% $395,500

Cities Similar to Palo Cedro

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Forestville3,717$115,962$730,30039.2%7.4%
Sage3,781$119,938$569,30021.2%8.8%
Santa Venetia3,725$126,833$1,006,30055.1%7.8%
Hidden Meadows3,524$123,125$851,10052.1%8.0%
Vine Hill3,540$115,313$631,90031.7%10.3%

Population Overview

Palo Cedro is a small community located in California, within Shasta County. The total population is 3,685. It ranks as the 732nd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palo Cedro is 41.6 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. With 31.3% of the population under 18, Palo Cedro has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.0% 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 Palo Cedro is $120,152. This is 21% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 49% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 6.6%. This is 45% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.8%. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $551,600. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 91.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 63% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Palo Cedro has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (88.3% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

40.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 9% 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 96.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palo Cedro, 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.

Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Palo Cedro, California?

Palo Cedro, California has a population of 3,685 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Palo Cedro, CA?

The median household income in Palo Cedro is $120,152, which is 49% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Palo Cedro, CA?

The poverty rate in Palo Cedro is 6.6%. This means approximately 244 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Palo Cedro, California?

Palo Cedro's population is 88.3% White, 0.0% Black, 2.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Palo Cedro, CA?

The median home value in Palo Cedro is $551,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x.

How educated is Palo Cedro, California?

40.6% of adults (25+) in Palo Cedro hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 13.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.