United States › California › Big Bear Lake CITY
Big Bear Lake California · 5,018 residents (2025 est.) · 6.24 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Big Bear Lake is a city of 5,041 people in California. The median age is 46.6, about 8 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $576,700, having roughly tripled since 2000. Households here earn about 23% less than in California as a whole. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.2% of residents. There are 808 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 75%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 5,438 in 2000
5,018 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
808 / sq mi
−17%since 2009
from 977 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 5K 6K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Big Bear Lake Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $76,250
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,447 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $21,517 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.589 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.6%
Public administration 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
Education & health services 0%
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$576,700
+75%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $180,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,454
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $581 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 63.0% in 2000
35.1% rent
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.17 people
−10%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 12.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.5%(4,433)
Hispanic / Latino 13.7%(745)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 65%(3,276)
Hispanic / Latino 26.7%(1,346)
from 50 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 86.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 50.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 67.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 31.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 81.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 95.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 86.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 82.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 14.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 31.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 25.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 32.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 50.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 14.5%(59)
Share of the 408 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Big Bear Lake Head to head
Compare Big Bear Lake to nearby cities BIG BEAR LAKE VS
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Income $71,511 −6%
Home value $463,500 −20%
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BIG BEAR LAKE VS
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BIG BEAR LAKE VS
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BIG BEAR LAKE VS
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Income $74,708 −2%
Home value $436,700 −24%
Population 9,514 +90%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Big Bear Lake, California? Big Bear Lake, California has about 5,041 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Big Bear Lake, California? The typical household in Big Bear Lake, California earns about $76,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Big Bear Lake, California expensive? In Big Bear Lake, California, the median home is worth about $576,700, and the typical rent is about $1,454 a month.
How educated are people in Big Bear Lake, California? About 33.9% of adults age 25 and over in Big Bear Lake, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Big Bear Lake, California? About 6.2% of people in Big Bear Lake, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Big Bear Lake, California grown since 1990? Yes, Big Bear Lake, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 310 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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