Smith Corner, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 718, Smith Corner'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

Smith Corner is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 718. It ranks as the 1153rd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Smith Corner is 29.9 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 31.9% of the population under 18, Smith Corner has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Smith Corner is $48,281. This is 51% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.8%. This is 106% 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 12.3%. This is 86% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $115,800. Housing costs are 84% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Smith Corner is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Smith Corner has a predominantly Hispanic or Latino population, comprising 98.2% of all residents. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (98.2% vs 40.2%).

Education

8.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 46.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Smith Corner, 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.