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CITY

Barstow

California · 24,804 residents (2025 est.) · 41.299 sq mi
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The short version

Barstow has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,380. Population has grown 19% 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 $245,000. At a median age of 32.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 46% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 95%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,100
+19%since 2000
from 21,119 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
608 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 511 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.7
+2%since 2000
from 32.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:24,804 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K22K23K25K26K1990201020202024Barstow
202425K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,380
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,069 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,121
+62%since 2000
from $16,132 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+11.1 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 20.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.459
+12%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance11.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$245,000
+95%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,091
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
43.7%
−10.4 ptssince 2000
from 54.1% in 2000
56.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.7%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.6
+133%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Barstow on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic43.4%(9,163)
Black11.1%(2,349)
Hispanic / Latino36.5%(7,708)
Asian3%(624)
Other0%
Diversity Score77.6%(16,391)
2024
White, non-Hispanic22.2%(5,560)
Black16.4%(4,111)
Hispanic / Latino49.1%(12,333)
Asian2.9%(725)
Other9.4%(2,371)
Diversity Score84.1%(21,113)
Diversity Score
84
+8%since 2000
from 78 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.2%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.6%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.2 min
+63%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.3%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.6%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.0%
−31.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
10.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.4%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2012
from 16.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−80.3 ptssince 2013
from 85.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.0%
+13.7 ptssince 2017
from 67.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
76.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2016
from 73.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
20.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 22.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Barstow, California?

Barstow, California has about 25,100 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Barstow, California?

The typical household in Barstow, California earns about $53,380 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Barstow, California expensive?

In Barstow, California, the median home is worth about $245,000, and the typical rent is about $1,091 a month.

How educated are people in Barstow, California?

About 13.2% of adults age 25 and over in Barstow, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Barstow, California?

About 23.1% of people in Barstow, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Barstow, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Barstow, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,646 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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

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