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CITY

Big Bear City

California · 11,431 residents · 32.015 sq mi
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Part of the Riverside metro area
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Notable rankings
#83Fastest shrinkingof 6,811-10.3%
The short version

Big Bear City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,511. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 98% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $463,500. With a median age of 47.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 28% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 118%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,431
+98%since 2000
from 5,779 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
357 / sq mi
+63%since 2009
from 219 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.2
+20%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K7K9K12K15K1990201020202024Big Bear City
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(753)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.4%(391)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.4%(505)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(745)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(494)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.7%(1,109)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412%(1,375)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(1,437)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.6%(1,902)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.7%(1,799)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.5%(854)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.6%(67)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,511
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,615 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,765
+111%since 2000
from $19,301 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.9%
+26.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.1%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+15%since 2010
from 0.388 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade10.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information9.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$463,500
+118%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $116,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,854
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $635 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
29.2% rent
Vacancy rate
57.9%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
40.9%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.5
−15%since 2009
from 7.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
70
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Bear City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.6%(4,714)
Black0.5%(31)
Hispanic / Latino12.9%(747)
Asian0.4%(26)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.9%(8,328)
Black0.4%(45)
Hispanic / Latino17.8%(2,034)
Asian2.4%(271)
Other6.6%(753)
Diversity Score
54
−7%since 2009
from 58 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican13.5%(1,544)
Salvadoran1.2%(138)
Bolivian1%(115)
Cuban0.8%(94)
Spaniard0.6%(72)
Puerto Rican0.2%(19)
Asian origin
Chinese1.2%(132)
Filipino0.5%(61)
Asian Indian0.5%(60)
Japanese0.1%(12)
Nepalese0.1%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German21.5%(2,454)
Irish14.3%(1,632)
English8.8%(1,008)
Italian4.3%(494)
French3.8%(434)
Polish3.2%(368)
Dutch2.9%(327)
American2.6%(299)
Norwegian1.9%(221)
Scottish1.9%(212)
British1.5%(175)
Portuguese1.1%(125)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Arab1%(111)
Czech1%(110)
Swedish0.8%(95)
Swiss0.7%(82)
Austrian0.5%(60)
Welsh0.5%(60)
Finnish0.5%(59)
Russian0.4%(49)
Israeli0.4%(42)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(41)
Armenian0.3%(39)
Belgian0.1%(17)
Greek0.1%(17)
Syrian0.1%(11)
Bulgarian0.1%(9)
Danish0.1%(9)
Lebanese0.1%(7)
Hungarian0.1%(7)
Slovak0%(4)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.7%
+16.4 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 84.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.9 min
+65%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.4%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 76.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.6%
−9.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.6%
+15.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 11.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.7%
−13.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Female
48.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Foreign born
6.5%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.8%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 14.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.6%
−59.7 ptssince 2013
from 71.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.2%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 86.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
86.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 87.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 10.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35%(1,785)
Married43.4%(2,217)
Widowed4.9%(249)
Divorced16.8%(856)
Women 15+
Never married19.5%(912)
Married49.7%(2,325)
Widowed10.9%(510)
Divorced19.9%(928)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Bear City, California?

Big Bear City, California has about 11,431 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Big Bear City, California?

The typical household in Big Bear City, California earns about $71,511 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Big Bear City, California expensive?

In Big Bear City, California, the median home is worth about $463,500, and the typical rent is about $1,854 a month.

How educated are people in Big Bear City, California?

About 30.7% of adults age 25 and over in Big Bear City, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Big Bear City, California?

About 16.1% of people in Big Bear City, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Big Bear City, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Big Bear City, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,511 residents, a change of about 132 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →