Stratford, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Stratford, California had a total population of 973, the 1071st largest community in California, with a median household income of $62,639, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 31.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 37% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (31.6%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Stratford Quick Facts
How Stratford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,030 | 973 | -5.5% |
| Median household income | $61,090 | $62,639 | +2.5% |
How Stratford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Stratford Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Kings County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford | 59,754 | $76,461 | 14.5% | $349,400 |
| Lemoore | 27,102 | $83,724 | 15.1% | $328,300 |
| Corcoran | 22,491 | $59,905 | 20.7% | $236,100 |
| Avenal | 13,608 | $54,741 | 19.1% | $228,900 |
| Lemoore Station | 6,175 | $69,243 | 9.4% | N/A |
| Armona | 3,890 | $64,276 | 11.2% | $284,100 |
| Home Garden | 1,806 | $56,384 | 15.0% | $164,500 |
| Kettleman City | 1,002 | $47,743 | 31.1% | $141,300 |
| Grangeville | 618 | $165,246 | 0.0% | $382,100 |
| Hardwick | 58 | N/A | 55.2% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Stratford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yermo | 958 | $59,167 | N/A | 11.8% | 15.1% |
| Stebbins | 967 | $68,029 | N/A | 7.7% | 23.2% |
| Inyokern | 912 | N/A | $292,900 | 13.0% | 22.5% |
| Tres Pinos | 901 | N/A | $1,036,000 | 38.7% | 0.2% |
| Smith River | 898 | N/A | $382,200 | 6.6% | 16.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 973, Stratford'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
Stratford is a small community located in California, within Kings County. The total population is 973. It ranks as the 1071st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Stratford is 36.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 28.8% of the population under 18, Stratford has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Stratford is $62,639. This is 37% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.6%. This is 163% 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 4.2%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $289,200. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 61.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Stratford is Hispanic or Latino, making up 82.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.8%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (82.8% 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 55.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Stratford, 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.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Stratford, California?
Stratford, California has a population of 973 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Stratford, CA?
The median household income in Stratford is $62,639, which is 22% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Stratford, CA?
The poverty rate in Stratford is 31.6%. This means approximately 307 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Stratford, California?
Stratford's population is 15.8% White, 0.0% Black, 82.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Stratford, CA?
The median home value in Stratford is $289,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x.
How educated is Stratford, California?
0.0% of adults (25+) in Stratford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.