Willow Creek, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Willow Creek is a small community located in California, within Humboldt County. The total population is 1,076. It ranks as the 1045th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Willow Creek is 60.7 years. This is 60% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 7.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Willow Creek is $47,137. This is 52% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $389,500. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 62.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Willow Creek is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.8% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (5.9%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

33.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% 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 89.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Willow Creek, 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.