Ripley, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 476, Ripley'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

Ripley is a small community located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 476. It ranks as the 1227th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ripley is 29.1 years. This is 23% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 31.3% of the population under 18, Ripley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 13.5% 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 Ripley is $28,775. This is 71% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 42.5%. This is 254% 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 4.5%. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $205,000. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 55.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ripley is Hispanic or Latino, making up 69.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 26.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (26.9% vs 5.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (69.5% vs 40.2%).

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 25.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ripley, 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.