Paradise, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 241, Paradise'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

Paradise is a small community located in California, within Mono County. The total population is 241. It ranks as the 1351st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Paradise is 61.1 years. This is 61% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 9.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Paradise is $109,375. This is 10% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 35% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.9%. This is 76% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Paradise, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $671,600. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Paradise is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 29.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (71.0% vs 33.8%).

Education

61.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% 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 98.2%. Notably, 22.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Paradise, 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.