CensusEasy
CITY

Penn Valley

California · 1,678 residents · 2.121 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Truckee micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Penn Valley has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,737. Population has grown 21% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $500,700. Households here earn about 35% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,678
+21%since 2000
from 1,387 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
791 / sq mi
+59%since 2009
from 497 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.8
+8%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
9711K1K2K2K1990201020202024Penn Valley
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.8%(131)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 910.4%(174)
US avg: 6%
10 to 140%(0)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 191.1%(19)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 240%(0)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.8%(232)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4418.4%(308)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 542.9%(49)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.6%(194)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7420.8%(349)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8413.1%(220)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.1%(2)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,737
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,962 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,052
+166%since 2000
from $16,582 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.7%
+28.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.3%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.502
+39%since 2010
from 0.360 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade20.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance12.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing7.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services7.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$500,700
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $159,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,230
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $746 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.4%
−10.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.8% in 2000
26.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.2%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.4%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.8%
−38.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.7
+14%since 2009
from 6.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Penn Valley on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.6%(1,256)
Black0.8%(11)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(62)
Asian0.7%(10)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.9%(1,273)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino16.2%(271)
Asian0%(0)
Other8%(134)
Diversity Score
49
+138%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
2009 – 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
Mexican12.8%(214)
Spaniard3.4%(57)
Ancestry
English16.3%(274)
Norwegian8.5%(142)
German8.3%(139)
American6.8%(114)
Irish6.6%(110)
Austrian5.4%(91)
Italian4.2%(70)
Swedish1.3%(21)
Dutch0.8%(13)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest German population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.1%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 85.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
50.8 min
+131%since 2000
from 22.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.0%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
21.7%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
+7.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.0%
−22.4 ptssince 2011
from 22.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 56.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
6.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−31.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
Female
48.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.0%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2012
from 22.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.1%
−72.4 ptssince 2013
from 87.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.1%
+19.2 ptssince 2017
from 69.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.8%
−5.0 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.2%
+11.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married18.5%(134)
Married71.4%(518)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced10.1%(73)
Women 15+
Never married16.8%(109)
Married58.8%(381)
Widowed11.4%(74)
Divorced13%(84)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Penn Valley

Havana
Pop 1,759
Pine Island Center
Pop 1,834
Wyoming
Pop 1,865
Rainbow Park
Pop 2,056
Places similar to Penn Valley
Head to head

Compare Penn Valley to nearby cities

PENN VALLEY VS
Grass Valley
Income$51,764−20%
Home value$482,200−4%
Population14,035+736%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PENN VALLEY VS
North Auburn
Income$71,056+10%
Home value$530,400+6%
Population13,480+703%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PENN VALLEY VS
Linda
Income$72,776+12%
Home value$371,700−26%
Population23,871+1323%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PENN VALLEY VS
Olivehurst
Income$83,214+29%
Home value$384,500−23%
Population18,444+999%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Penn Valley, California?

Penn Valley, California has about 1,678 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Penn Valley, California?

The typical household in Penn Valley, California earns about $64,737 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Penn Valley, California expensive?

In Penn Valley, California, the median home is worth about $500,700, and the typical rent is about $1,230 a month.

How educated are people in Penn Valley, California?

About 18.1% of adults age 25 and over in Penn Valley, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Penn Valley, California?

About 9.3% of people in Penn Valley, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Penn Valley, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Penn Valley, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 453 residents, a change of about 37 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Penn Valley with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →