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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Wasco

California · 21,263 residents · 9.39 sq mi
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The short version

Wasco is home to 21,263 people in California. The population has risen by half since 1990, adding 8,969 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 4% of adults. The poverty rate is 27.5%, above the 12.4% national rate. This skews young, with a median age of 29.3. That trails the California median by roughly 39%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 29.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
4% 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

21,263
+73%since 1990
from 12,294 in 1990
1990 – 2025
29.3
+14%since 1990
from 25.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
9.39 sq mi
Population, 19902024
11K15K20K24K29K19902000201020202024Wasco
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.5%(1,604)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98%(1,710)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.4%(1,582)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198%(1,693)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2410.4%(2,201)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3420.4%(4,342)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4419%(4,039)
US avg: 16%
45 to 549.5%(2,025)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 644.3%(918)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 743.2%(684)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 841.7%(353)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.5%(112)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$28,997
+10%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,976 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$14,228
+100%since 1990
from $7,097 in 1990
US average: $21,522
27.5%
+0.3 ptssince 1990
from 27.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$80,700
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $62,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$406
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $352 in 1990
US average: $602
57.8%
+3.6 ptssince 1990
from 54.2% in 1990
42.2% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic38.6%(4,744)
Black5.6%(684)
Hispanic / Latino63.1%(7,762)
Asian1.3%(156)
2000
White, non-Hispanic21.6%(4,588)
Black9.8%(2,088)
Hispanic / Latino66.7%(14,187)
Asian0.6%(126)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican82.1%(21,797)
Salvadoran1%(261)
Puerto Rican0.8%(223)
Guatemalan0.8%(206)
Spaniard0.3%(77)
Peruvian0.1%(37)
Cuban0.1%(35)
Chilean0.1%(20)
Paraguayan0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(64)
Vietnamese0.2%(47)
Korean0.2%(42)
Japanese0%(12)
Chinese0%(9)
Laotian0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(9)
Ancestry
American2%(529)
English1.1%(304)
German1%(265)
Irish0.9%(242)
Italian0.3%(77)
French0.3%(73)
Dutch0.2%(42)
British0.2%(40)
Scottish0.2%(40)
Swedish0.1%(22)
Russian0.1%(17)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Section 05

Education

4.2%
−0.3 ptssince 1990
from 4.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
54.1%
+12.5 ptssince 1990
from 41.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
1.1%
Unchangedsince 1990
from 1.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.6 min
−12%since 1990
from 18.8 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 married15.6%(1,745)
Married72.7%(8,110)
Widowed9.8%(1,089)
Divorced1.9%(215)
Women 15+
Never married29.3%(1,523)
Married57%(2,964)
Widowed8.3%(429)
Divorced5.4%(280)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

11.3%
−15.4 ptssince 2013
from 26.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
40.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2020
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
4.3%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 7.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
8.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
45.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 41.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 0.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
43.5%
−6.1 ptssince 2020
from 49.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
51.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 48.5% 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)22.9%(88)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)39.5%(152)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era16.6%(64)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.2%(16)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 385 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 Wasco, California?

Wasco, California has about 21,263 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Wasco, California?

The typical household in Wasco, California earns about $28,997 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 $80,700, and the typical rent is about $406 a month.

How educated are people in Wasco, California?

About 4.2% 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 27.5% 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 8,969 residents, a change of about 73 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 →