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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Porterville

California · 39,615 residents · 18.8 sq mi
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The short version

With 39,615 people, Porterville is a city in California. The median age is 28.6, younger than the US median of 35.2. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. 25.7% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Growth has run 34% since 1990, or 9,955 more people. That trails the California median by roughly 33%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

39,615
+34%since 1990
from 29,660 in 1990
1990 – 2025
28.6
−6%since 1990
from 30.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
18.8 sq mi
Population, 19902024
26K36K46K56K67K19902000201020202024Porterville
202463K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 59.5%(3,759)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.9%(3,919)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.3%(3,684)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 199.1%(3,598)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247.3%(2,882)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414%(5,541)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414%(5,559)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.2%(4,439)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.3%(2,496)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.4%(1,738)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.5%(1,402)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.5%(598)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$32,046
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $22,168 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$12,745
+32%since 1990
from $9,666 in 1990
US average: $21,522
25.7%
−1.1 ptssince 1990
from 26.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$92,200
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $70,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$504
−6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $407 in 1990
US average: $602
56.4%
+0.7 ptssince 1990
from 55.7% in 1990
43.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic65.6%(19,461)
Black1.2%(362)
Hispanic / Latino33.9%(10,057)
Asian6.3%(1,860)
2000
White, non-Hispanic42%(16,649)
Black1%(406)
Hispanic / Latino49.4%(19,589)
Asian4.4%(1,761)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican68.6%(43,338)
Central American1.6%(1,012)
Salvadoran1.1%(679)
Cuban0.5%(304)
Guatemalan0.4%(238)
Spaniard0.2%(152)
Peruvian0.2%(101)
Chilean0.2%(96)
Panamanian0.1%(63)
Puerto Rican0.1%(58)
Nicaraguan0.1%(32)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino1.8%(1,148)
Asian Indian0.4%(234)
Laotian0.2%(112)
Vietnamese0.1%(74)
Chinese0.1%(38)
Pakistani0.1%(34)
Korean0%(30)
Japanese0%(23)
Hmong0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.2%(139)
Ancestry
German3.7%(2,349)
English3.3%(2,081)
Irish3.3%(2,068)
American1.5%(944)
Italian1%(656)
Arab0.8%(524)
Dutch0.6%(389)
Scottish0.5%(341)
Portuguese0.4%(266)
French0.4%(255)
Syrian0.4%(253)
Norwegian0.3%(198)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.3%(183)
Swedish0.3%(180)
British0.2%(102)
Welsh0.2%(100)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(80)
Danish0.1%(61)
Lebanese0.1%(44)
Polish0.1%(34)
Swiss0%(29)
Canadian0%(24)
Belgian0%(16)
Armenian0%(13)
Greek0%(9)
Czech0%(8)
Finnish0%(6)
Section 05

Education

11.0%
−1.5 ptssince 1990
from 12.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
61.7%
+1.0 ptssince 1990
from 60.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
3.6%
−0.6 ptssince 1990
from 4.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.4 min
−9%since 1990
from 17.0 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.7%(4,211)
Married59.4%(8,157)
Widowed2.6%(356)
Divorced7.3%(1,002)
Women 15+
Never married23.9%(3,513)
Married55.5%(8,169)
Widowed8.7%(1,276)
Divorced11.9%(1,752)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

6.5%
−13.3 ptssince 2013
from 19.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
38.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2020
from 36.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
6.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 6.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
13.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
49.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 49.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
43.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2020
from 41.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
57.6%
−2.1 ptssince 2020
from 59.7% 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)14.2%(185)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)14.7%(192)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era50%(652)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.8%(76)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,303 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Porterville, California?

Porterville, California has about 39,615 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Porterville, California?

The typical household in Porterville, California earns about $32,046 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Porterville, California expensive?

In Porterville, California, the median home is worth about $92,200, and the typical rent is about $504 a month.

How educated are people in Porterville, California?

About 11.0% of adults age 25 and over in Porterville, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Porterville, California?

About 25.7% of people in Porterville, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Porterville, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Porterville, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,955 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 →