Tulare County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Tulare County is located in California with a total population of 475,774. It is the 18th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tulare County is 31.9 years. This is 15% lower than the state median of 37.6 years. With 30.1% of the population under 18, Tulare County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tulare County is $69,489. This is 28% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.8%. This is 38% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $303,000. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 58.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tulare County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 66.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 26.3%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (66.0% vs 39.8%). The Asian population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

15.8% 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. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 74.4%.