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CITY · 2010 ACS

Atwater

California · 28,168 residents · 6.567 sq mi
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The short version

Atwater has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $42,226. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $214,600. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 31% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 70%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,168
+22%since 2000
from 23,113 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,289 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 3,520 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
30.0
+5%since 2000
from 28.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K24K27K30K33K1990201020202024Atwater
202432K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,226
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,344 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,768
+17%since 2000
from $15,162 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
23.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade12.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction7.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$214,600
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$869
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $521 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
41.6%
−18.2 ptssince 2000
from 59.8% in 2000
44.5% rent
Vacancy rate
11.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
45.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
5.1
+90%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic35.8%(10,085)
Black3.9%(1,087)
Hispanic / Latino52.6%(14,808)
Asian4.8%(1,347)
Other3.7%(1,033)
Diversity Score74.5%(20,980)
Diversity Score
74
+1%since 2000
from 74 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.2%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
73.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+39%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
77.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
22.9%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
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
22.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.7%
−38.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Compare Atwater to nearby cities

ATWATER VS
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Home value$339,400+58%
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ATWATER VS
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ATWATER VS
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ATWATER VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Atwater, California?

Atwater, California has about 28,168 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Atwater, California?

The typical household in Atwater, California earns about $42,226 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 $214,600, and the typical rent is about $869 a month.

How educated are people in Atwater, California?

About 12.2% 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 23.4% 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 5,886 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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

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