Thermalito, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Thermalito, California had a total population of 6,720, the 592nd largest community in California, with a median household income of $54,865, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.4%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Unemployment rate of 9.9% is notably above the national average.
Thermalito Quick Facts
How Thermalito Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,894 | 6,720 | No clear change (-2.5%) |
| Median household income | $45,492 | $54,865 | +20.6% |
| Median home value¹ | $201,467 | $254,900 | +26.5% |
| Median gross rent | $1,383 | $1,178 | -14.8% |
How Thermalito Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 50.1%
- Black: 0.3%
- Hispanic: 16.7%
- Asian: 23.8%
- Other: 0.9%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 20.7%
- HS Diploma: 33.3%
- Some College: 26.0%
- Associate's: 9.4%
- Bachelor's: 9.8%
- Graduate+: 0.9%
Thermalito Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Butte County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | 102,188 | $66,977 | 22.7% | $468,100 |
| Oroville | 19,752 | $52,270 | 21.4% | $311,600 |
| Oroville East | 7,504 | $94,512 | 8.7% | $405,400 |
| Paradise (Butte County) | 7,392 | $67,687 | 18.2% | $416,000 |
| Magalia | 7,389 | $56,920 | 11.8% | $280,600 |
| Gridley | 7,330 | $57,974 | 17.9% | $312,800 |
| Durham | 5,340 | $95,417 | 10.2% | $700,100 |
| Palermo | 5,266 | $50,588 | 20.2% | $283,000 |
| South Oroville | 2,846 | $65,409 | 33.7% | $261,500 |
| Kelly Ridge | 2,825 | $54,631 | 12.3% | $277,600 |
Cities Similar to Thermalito
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calipatria | 6,548 | $53,299 | $197,200 | 4.5% | 25.6% |
| Huron | 6,519 | $52,500 | $251,700 | 2.8% | 30.4% |
| Fort Bragg | 7,032 | $56,481 | $535,400 | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| Earlimart | 7,214 | $52,881 | $264,200 | 3.9% | 21.8% |
| Magalia | 7,389 | $56,920 | $280,600 | 17.3% | 11.8% |
Population Overview
Thermalito is a small city located in California, within Butte County. The total population is 6,720. It ranks as the 592nd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Thermalito is 37.0 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Thermalito is $54,865. This is 45% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 70% 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 9.9%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $254,900. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Thermalito is White (non-Hispanic), making up 50.1% of the population. Asian residents account for 23.8%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (16.7%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (23.8% vs 15.3%).
Education
10.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 71% 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 79.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Thermalito, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Thermalito, California?
Thermalito, California has a population of 6,720 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Thermalito, CA?
The median household income in Thermalito is $54,865, which is 32% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Thermalito, CA?
The poverty rate in Thermalito is 20.4%. This means approximately 1,364 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Thermalito, California?
Thermalito's population is 50.1% White, 0.3% Black, 16.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 23.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Thermalito, CA?
The median home value in Thermalito is $254,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x.
How educated is Thermalito, California?
10.6% of adults (25+) in Thermalito hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.