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CITY

Colton

California · 53,383 residents (2025 est.) · 15.6 sq mi
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Part of the Riverside metro area
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The short version

Colton is a city of 53,772 people in California. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. This skews young, with a median age of 33.9. 53% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 26%. Density works out to 3,441 people per square mile.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $71,208, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 144%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Colton

What changed most since 1990

  • Hispanic share49.6% → 75.2% (+25.6 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree13.4% → 16.6% (+3.2 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
  • White share37.2% → 9.6% (−27.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts

Among the 127 cities and towns in the Riverside metro

  • 88th in household income$71,208
  • 81st in share with a bachelor's degree16.6%
  • 67th in home value$443,800
  • 103rd in diversity score52.1

Its weight in San Bernardino County

Colton's population equals 2.4% of San Bernardino County's. Its number of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher equals 1.8% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
53,772
+13%since 2000
from 47,662 in 2000
53,383 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,441 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 3,050 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.9
+26%since 2000
from 26.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
15.6 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
39K43K47K52K56K19902000201020202024Colton
202454K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(2,852)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.9%(3,165)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.6%(4,631)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(3,709)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.6%(3,535)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.3%(9,839)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.4%(7,225)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.3%(6,626)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.4%(6,110)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.3%(3,927)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.2%(1,739)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.8%(414)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,208
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,777 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,391
+103%since 2000
from $13,460 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.9%
+25.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.391
−3%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance13.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Information13.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical13.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$443,800
+144%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $99,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,661
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $618 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 52.0% in 2000
47.2% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
3.16 people
−5%since 2009
from 3.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
32.1%
−15.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.0%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.2
+6%since 2009
from 5.9 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic20.8%(9,911)
Black10.6%(5,031)
Hispanic / Latino60.7%(28,934)
Asian5.2%(2,474)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic9.6%(5,144)
Black7.5%(4,023)
Hispanic / Latino75.2%(40,430)
Asian3.8%(2,064)
Other3.9%(2,111)
Diversity Score
52
−21%since 2009
from 66 in 2009
1990 – 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
Mexican68.1%(36,643)
Central American3.9%(2,103)
Guatemalan1.9%(1,038)
Salvadoran1.9%(995)
Puerto Rican0.7%(360)
Colombian0.3%(155)
Spaniard0.3%(135)
Ecuadorian0.2%(94)
Venezuelan0.1%(78)
Honduran0.1%(34)
Argentine0.1%(30)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0.1%(28)
Dominican0%(16)
Cuban0%(1)
Asian origin
Filipino2%(1,064)
Indonesian0.5%(266)
Asian Indian0.5%(262)
Vietnamese0.4%(229)
Chinese0.2%(117)
Bangladeshi0.1%(76)
Cambodian0.1%(55)
Korean0.1%(32)
Thai0.1%(30)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.3%(173)
Samoan0.2%(93)
Chamorro0%(17)
Fijian0%(11)
Ancestry
American2.1%(1,113)
Irish1.8%(964)
English1.8%(943)
German1.8%(943)
Arab0.9%(510)
Italian0.9%(490)
Palestinian0.6%(340)
French0.6%(311)
Scottish0.5%(279)
Polish0.3%(149)
Norwegian0.2%(119)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.2%(109)
West Indian0.2%(104)
Jamaican0.2%(92)
Jordanian0.2%(91)
Lebanese0.2%(89)
Greek0.2%(89)
Portuguese0.1%(80)
Russian0.1%(72)
Egyptian0.1%(71)
Nigerian0.1%(62)
Welsh0.1%(46)
Armenian0.1%(32)
Finnish0.1%(31)
Czech0.1%(30)
Ghanaian0%(21)
Bulgarian0%(18)
British0%(17)
Dutch0%(17)
Canadian0%(16)
Danish0%(14)
Hungarian0%(10)
Swiss0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 68.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.5 min
+43%since 2000
from 19.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.5%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.1%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−6.6 ptssince 2011
from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.8%
+6.5 ptssince 2020
from 64.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
15.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
25.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.1%
−17.4 ptssince 2013
from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.8%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.2%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
92.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
44.8%
−9.5 ptssince 2016
from 54.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
49.9%
+9.7 ptssince 2016
from 40.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married46%(10,004)
Married45.3%(9,857)
Widowed2.3%(501)
Divorced6.4%(1,387)
Women 15+
Never married40.1%(8,575)
Married44.5%(9,509)
Widowed7.1%(1,520)
Divorced8.3%(1,771)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.1%
−17.4 ptssince 2013
from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
44.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 48.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
11.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2020
from 7.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
12.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 12.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
36.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 37.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.5%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
51.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 53.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
45.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 45.2% 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)23.1%(405)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)6.2%(109)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.4%(621)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.5%(61)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.5%(26)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,754 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Colton, decade by decade

Colton population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199040,213$69,213$233,04713.4%75.8
200047,662$65,173$181,80112.2%71.7
201052,154$62,395$366,97912.0%58.5
202053,909$68,798$354,27918.5%54.4
202453,772$71,208$443,80016.6%52.1

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

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COLTON VS
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COLTON VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Colton, California?

Colton, California has about 53,772 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Colton, California?

The typical household in Colton, California earns about $71,208 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Colton, California expensive?

In Colton, California, the median home is worth about $443,800, and the typical rent is about $1,661 a month.

How educated are people in Colton, California?

About 16.6% of adults age 25 and over in Colton, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Colton, California?

About 13.7% of people in Colton, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Colton, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Colton, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 13,559 residents, a change of about 34 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 →

Colton, California: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy