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CITY

Wasco

California · 26,525 residents (2025 est.) · 9.387 sq mi
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The short version

Wasco has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,727. Population has grown 25% since 2000. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $273,600. At a median age of 30.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 48% 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
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,558
+25%since 2000
from 21,263 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,829 / sq mi
+25%since 2000
from 2,265 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.6
+4%since 2000
from 29.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:26,525 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K15K20K24K29K1990201020202024Wasco
202427K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,727
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,997 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,909
+26%since 2000
from $14,228 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.8%
+21.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.4%
−9.1 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.424
+4%since 2010
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing26.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction25.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing1.2%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$273,600
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,089
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $406 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 57.8% in 2000
41.7% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.8%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.3
+90%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wasco on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic21.6%(4,588)
Black9.8%(2,088)
Hispanic / Latino66.7%(14,187)
Asian0.6%(126)
Other0%
Diversity Score60.7%(12,902)
2024
White, non-Hispanic6.7%(1,780)
Black4.2%(1,111)
Hispanic / Latino87.4%(23,206)
Asian0.5%(143)
Other1.2%(318)
Diversity Score28.8%(7,638)
Diversity Score
29
−53%since 2000
from 61 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
62.4%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 54.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 1.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.3 min
+41%since 2000
from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
+15.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.0%
−13.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% 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
3.1%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−6.6 ptssince 2011
from 13.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.9%
+8.4 ptssince 2011
from 42.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
14.2%
−27.5 ptssince 2009
from 41.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
58.1%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.2% in 2009
Female
41.9%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
Foreign born
29.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 28.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.0%
−65.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.3%
−62.0 ptssince 2013
from 73.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.1%
+31.4 ptssince 2017
from 52.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
31.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 28.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
67.6%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 69.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Wasco to nearby cities

WASCO VS
McFarland
Income$54,608+6%
Home value$272,700same
Population14,709−45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WASCO VS
Shafter
Income$71,215+38%
Home value$335,800+23%
Population23,871−10%
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WASCO VS
Delano
Income$67,010+30%
Home value$301,900+10%
Population52,334+97%
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WASCO VS
Rosedale
Income$135,966+163%
Home value$608,900+123%
Population18,877−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wasco, California?

Wasco, California has about 26,558 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wasco, California?

The typical household in Wasco, California earns about $51,727 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wasco, California expensive?

In Wasco, California, the median home is worth about $273,600, and the typical rent is about $1,089 a month.

How educated are people in Wasco, California?

About 6.2% of adults age 25 and over in Wasco, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wasco, California?

About 18.4% of people in Wasco, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wasco, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Wasco, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,264 residents, a change of about 116 percent over that period.

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

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