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CITY · 2010 ACS

Big Bear Lake

California · 5,019 residents · 6.241 sq mi
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The short version

Big Bear Lake has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,299. Population has declined 8% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $390,500. With a median age of 46.1, the population is older than the US median of 37.2. Households here earn about 47% less than the California median. Despite a median home value of $390,500, the poverty rate sits 52% above the US average — a pattern often seen in resort and college towns.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 37.2
Average education
25% 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
5,019
−8%since 2000
from 5,438 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
46.1
+7%since 2000
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K1990201020202024Big Bear Lake
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55%(249)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.3%(266)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.5%(275)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 196.8%(340)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.6%(280)
US avg: 7%
25 to 349.5%(476)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4410.9%(545)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5415.9%(798)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6415.2%(765)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 7412.4%(623)
US avg: 7%
75 to 846.4%(320)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over1.6%(82)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,299
−26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,447 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,795
+20%since 2000
from $21,517 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
19.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
21.1%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.589
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Wholesale trade15.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services10.4%
US avg: 7%
Information6.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Public administration6.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Retail trade1%
US avg: 10.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 3.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$390,500
+70%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $180,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$934
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $581 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
36.1%
−26.8 ptssince 2000
from 63.0% in 2000
41.9% rent
Vacancy rate
78.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
51.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
12.1
+1%since 2009
from 12.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Big Bear Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(4,433)
Black0.7%(37)
Hispanic / Latino13.7%(745)
Asian0.8%(41)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic73.3%(3,677)
Black0.4%(21)
Hispanic / Latino21.4%(1,076)
Asian1.4%(72)
Other3%(149)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican20.1%(1,041)
Cuban1.2%(62)
Peruvian0.8%(40)
Ancestry
Irish16.2%(836)
English13.2%(683)
German10.7%(554)
American7.1%(369)
Swedish6.3%(325)
Italian6.2%(323)
French3.6%(185)
Scotch-Irish3.3%(170)
Norwegian2.9%(151)
Polish2%(101)
Scottish1.7%(86)
Danish1.6%(84)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.4%(71)
British1%(50)
Swiss0.9%(46)
Portuguese0.4%(21)
Romanian0.4%(21)
Welsh0.4%(20)
Brazilian0.3%(18)
Lithuanian0.3%(15)
Canadian0.2%(10)
Arab0.2%(9)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
80.4%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.7 min
−32%since 2000
from 18.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
88.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 86.3% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
1.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
5.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
8.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
21.5%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
14.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
14.0%
−34.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married24.7%(541)
Married54.6%(1,194)
Widowed4.5%(99)
Divorced16.1%(352)
Women 15+
Never married30.1%(640)
Married50.5%(1,073)
Widowed6.4%(136)
Divorced12.9%(275)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Bear Lake, California?

Big Bear Lake, California has about 5,019 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Big Bear Lake, California earns about $32,299 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 $390,500, and the typical rent is about $934 a month.

How educated are people in Big Bear Lake, California?

About 25.2% 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 21.1% 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 332 residents, a change of about -6 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 →