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CITY

Atwater

California · 32,133 residents (2025 est.) · 6.567 sq mi
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The short version

Atwater has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,472. Population has grown 39% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $363,400. At a median age of 33.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 35% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 100%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,162
+39%since 2000
from 23,113 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,898 / sq mi
+39%since 2000
from 3,520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.0
+16%since 2000
from 28.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:32,133 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K24K27K30K33K1990201020202024Atwater
202432K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,472
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,344 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,045
+85%since 2000
from $15,162 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.2%
+17.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
−6%since 2010
from 0.445 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade9.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance7.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing4.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$363,400
+100%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,279
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $521 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.1%
−7.7 ptssince 2000
from 59.8% in 2000
47.9% rent
Vacancy rate
2.1%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.6%
−12.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.6
+111%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
46
RELATED:See current rent listings in Atwater on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic44.3%(10,245)
Black4.7%(1,093)
Hispanic / Latino41.5%(9,594)
Asian5.3%(1,214)
Other0%
Diversity Score74.1%(17,129)
2024
White, non-Hispanic26.1%(8,408)
Black3%(975)
Hispanic / Latino59.8%(19,232)
Asian6.6%(2,137)
Other4.4%(1,410)
Diversity Score70.9%(22,788)
Diversity Score
71
−4%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
74.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+86%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.3%
−4.8 ptssince 2011
from 17.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.5%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
51.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
21.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−43.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2012
from 16.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−70.2 ptssince 2013
from 79.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 80.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
52.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 52.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
40.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 42.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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ATWATER VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Atwater, California?

Atwater, California has about 32,162 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Atwater, California?

The typical household in Atwater, California earns about $64,472 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Atwater, California expensive?

In Atwater, California, the median home is worth about $363,400, and the typical rent is about $1,279 a month.

How educated are people in Atwater, California?

About 12.9% of adults age 25 and over in Atwater, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Atwater, California?

About 21.0% of people in Atwater, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Atwater, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Atwater, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,880 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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