Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Chowchilla, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

19,020

Median Agei

34.2

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

50.3%9,574

White

32.5%6,175

Asian

6.1%1,166

Black

5.9%1,117

Two or More

4%766

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.5%94

Other

0.5%93

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%35

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

7.3%920

High School Diploma

19.1%2,408

Some College (<1 yr)

7.3%921

Some College (1+ yr)

15.1%1,902

Associate's Degree

9.1%1,144

Bachelor's Degree

11.2%1,406

Master's Degree

4%498

Professional Degree

0%6

Doctorate

0.4%53

HS or Higher

73.6%

BA or Higher

15.6%

Graduate+

4.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$364,000

Median Renti

$1,178

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

57.3%2,383

Renter-Occupied

42.7%1,778

Total Units

4,390

Homeownership

57.3%

Vacancy Rate

5.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.3%31

$50K–$100K

1.8%43

$100K–$150K

2.6%61

$150K–$200K

2.5%60

$200K–$300K

22.2%530

$300K–$500K

52%1,239

$500K–$1M

14.5%345

$1M+

3.1%74

Rent Distribution

Under $500

220

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

193

$1,000–$1,250

479

$1,250–$1,500

233

$1,500–$2,000

309

$2,000+

138

Year Built

2020 or later

2.3%99

2010–2019

3.6%157

2000–2009

31%1,362

1990–1999

15.9%699

1980–1989

8.4%368

1970–1979

18.2%799

1960–1969

6.7%292

1950–1959

6.3%276

1940–1949

4.7%208

1939 or earlier

3%130

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

61.6%2,563

Electricity

34.3%1,427

Bottled/LP Gas

2.3%97

Solar

0.8%33

No Fuel

0.6%23

Wood

0.2%10

Other

0.2%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,514

Mean Household Incomei

$81,091

Per Capita Incomei

$21,649

Poverty Ratei

14%

Unemploymenti

10.6%

Labor Forcei

6,054

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

9.7%403

$10K–$15K

5%210

$15K–$20K

3.9%162

$20K–$25K

5.4%223

$25K–$30K

1.2%52

$30K–$35K

2.4%98

$35K–$40K

0.3%11

$40K–$45K

3.9%164

$45K–$50K

6.4%268

$50K–$60K

6.2%260

$60K–$75K

9.9%413

$75K–$100K

11.7%486

$100K–$125K

14.6%608

$125K–$150K

4.4%185

$150K–$200K

8.9%372

$200K+

5.9%246

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

188

Residentsi

338

Avg. Tenant Renti

$539/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

56 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers143 homes79% occupied$578/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 845 homes98% occupied$414/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $66,514/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

72.2%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

21.2%

Low income$33K–$53K/yr

6.6%

Who Receives This Housing

79.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

62.2% of subsidized households are minority

12.7% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

37.8% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

3,11116.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,984

India

386

Philippines

221

China

Guatemala

Canada

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

5,262

Avg. Commutei

25.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

5,415

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

543(3.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

92.2%Insured

7.8%Uninsured