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CITY

Brawley

California · 28,008 residents (2025 est.) · 8.089 sq mi
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The short version

Brawley has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,311. Population has grown 24% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $290,700. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 40% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 67%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,283
+24%since 2000
from 22,052 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,373 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 2,726 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.6
+3%since 2000
from 29.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:28,008 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K21K23K26K28K1990201020202024Brawley
202427K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,311
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,277 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,681
+107%since 2000
from $12,881 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.5%
+16.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.3%
−5.2 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.499
−1%since 2010
from 0.502 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Information9.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade3.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services2.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services1.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration0.2%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$290,700
+67%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $95,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$988
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $481 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
51.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 53.5% in 2000
48.4% rent
Vacancy rate
8.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.8%
−10.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.9
+60%since 2000
from 3.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
51
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brawley on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic21.7%(4,780)
Black2.1%(464)
Hispanic / Latino73.8%(16,280)
Asian1%(211)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.8%(10,752)
2024
White, non-Hispanic11.1%(3,030)
Black0.3%(69)
Hispanic / Latino85.6%(23,351)
Asian1.9%(511)
Other1.2%(322)
Diversity Score31.8%(8,684)
Diversity Score
32
−35%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.0%
+16.5 ptssince 2000
from 56.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.2 min
+35%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.1%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.3%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
15.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 18.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 58.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.2%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
48.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
27.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
1.6%
−46.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2012
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−79.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+19.4 ptssince 2017
from 70.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
32.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 33.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
67.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 65.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Brawley to nearby cities

BRAWLEY VS
Imperial
Income$90,195+52%
Home value$360,900+24%
Population22,330−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAWLEY VS
El Centro
Income$53,082−11%
Home value$323,100+11%
Population44,382+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAWLEY VS
Calexico
Income$49,783−16%
Home value$313,600+8%
Population38,623+38%
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BRAWLEY VS
Somerton
Income$74,015+25%
Home value$232,600−20%
Population14,934−47%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brawley, California?

Brawley, California has about 27,283 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brawley, California?

The typical household in Brawley, California earns about $59,311 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brawley, California expensive?

In Brawley, California, the median home is worth about $290,700, and the typical rent is about $988 a month.

How educated are people in Brawley, California?

About 15.9% of adults age 25 and over in Brawley, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brawley, California?

About 21.3% of people in Brawley, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brawley, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Brawley, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,360 residents, a change of about 44 percent over that period.

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

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