Rough and Ready, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 736, Rough and Ready'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

Rough and Ready is a small community located in California, within Nevada County. The total population is 736. It ranks as the 1144th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rough and Ready is 56.0 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 28.3% 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 Rough and Ready is $102,725. This is 4% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 27% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.2%. This is 90% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 10.1%. This is 53% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $691,500. Housing costs are 6% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 80.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 44% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rough and Ready has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.5% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

39.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% 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 97.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rough and Ready, 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.