Tomales, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Tomales, California had a total population of 168, the 1400th largest community in California. The poverty rate is 54.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (54.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Tomales Quick Facts
How Tomales 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 | 192 | 168 | -12.5% |
| Median home value | $852,500 | $849,400 | -0.4% |
How Tomales 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+)
Tomales Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Marin County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Rafael | 60,433 | $119,435 | 11.7% | $1,355,600 |
| Novato | 52,546 | $115,736 | 9.6% | $1,032,500 |
| Mill Valley | 14,012 | $206,212 | 5.9% | $2,000,000+ |
| Larkspur | 12,854 | $140,417 | 7.0% | $1,996,600 |
| San Anselmo | 12,679 | $173,641 | 7.4% | $1,576,700 |
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley | 12,085 | $243,227 | 3.3% | $1,863,900 |
| Corte Madera | 10,077 | $232,763 | 4.6% | $1,755,200 |
| Tiburon | 9,012 | $232,969 | 1.9% | $2,000,000+ |
| Fairfax | 7,516 | $141,653 | 12.1% | $1,163,600 |
| Sausalito | 7,141 | $182,357 | 8.0% | $1,894,600 |
Cities Similar to Tomales
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodmanville | 169 | $154,034 | N/A | 42.7% | 0.0% |
| Round Mountain | 169 | $57,188 | $220,000 | 3.3% | 16.0% |
| Raisin City | 170 | $52,813 | N/A | 14.7% | 21.8% |
| Clear Creek | 172 | $51,278 | $230,800 | 17.9% | 2.3% |
| Comptche | 163 | N/A | N/A | 55.2% | 37.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 168, Tomales'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
Tomales is a small community located in California, within Marin County. The total population is 168. It ranks as the 1400th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Tomales is 65.6 years. This is 73% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 54.8%. This is 356% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Tomales, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $849,400. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $734,700. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 79% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Tomales was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
37.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 37.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Tomales, 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 Tomales, California?
Tomales, California has a population of 168 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Tomales, CA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Tomales — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Tomales, CA?
The poverty rate in Tomales is 54.8%. This means approximately 92 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Tomales, California?
Tomales's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Tomales, CA?
The median home value in Tomales is $849,400.
How educated is Tomales, California?
37.8% of adults (25+) in Tomales hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 37.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.