Placer County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Placer County is located in California with a total population of 412,435. It is the 22nd most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Placer County is 42.4 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Placer County is $114,678. This is 19% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 46% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.7%. This is 44% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $658,800. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x. 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Placer County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (67.3% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (15.4%) is well below the state average of 39.8%.

Education

42.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%. Notably, 15.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.