Searles Valley, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Searles Valley is a small community located in California, within San Bernardino County. The total population is 1,713. It ranks as the 928th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Searles Valley is 33.7 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 35.1% of the population under 18, Searles Valley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Searles Valley is $62,500. This is 37% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 102% 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 11.1%. This is 67% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $80,800. Housing costs are 89% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Searles Valley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Searles Valley is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (67.9% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (19.9%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower 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 88.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Searles Valley, 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.