United States › California › Empire CITY
Empire California · 3,429 residents · 1.17 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Empire is a city of 3,429 people in California. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. That trails the California median by roughly 47%. The poverty rate is 22.3%, above the 12.5% national rate. Density works out to 2,936 people per square mile. The median household earns $52,563, about 36% below the national median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 115%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth 2,936 / sq mi
−8%since 2009
from 3,183 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 2000 – 2024
3K 4K 4K 4K 5K 2000 2010 2020 2024 Empire Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $52,563
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,500 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $12,133 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.407 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 11.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 8.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.6%
Education & health services 0%
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$335,200
+115%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,238
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $562 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 67.8% in 2000
39.2% rent
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 3.07 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 65.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 6.5 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 50.7%(1,977)
Hispanic / Latino 42.9%(1,674)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 44.2%(1,514)
Hispanic / Latino 48.6%(1,668)
from 73 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 58.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 84.5% 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 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 21.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 55.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 27.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 94.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 83.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 52.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 43.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 27.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 32.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 45.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 40.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 55.2% 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) 30.4%(45)
Share of the 148 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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Frequently asked
How many people live in Empire, California? Empire, California has about 3,429 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Empire, California? The typical household in Empire, California earns about $52,563 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Empire, California expensive? In Empire, California, the median home is worth about $335,200, and the typical rent is about $1,238 a month.
How educated are people in Empire, California? About 7.7% of adults age 25 and over in Empire, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Empire, California? About 22.3% of people in Empire, California live below the federal poverty line.
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