Cottonwood

Population: 3,102
Median household income: $40,339
Median home value: $256,400

Cottonwood is a community in Kern County, California, home to 3,102 residents. Its median household income of $40,339 runs below the Kern County figure of $67,660.

Between 2020 and 2023, Cottonwood's population held roughly steady from 3,121 to 3,102, while its median home value rose 159.5% from $98,800 to $256,400.

Hispanic or Latino residents are the largest group, 79.7% of the population. 87.1% of workers drive to work alone.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 3,102
Median age: 21.7 yrs
Median household income: $40,339
Median home value: $256,400
Median gross rent: $947
Housing units: 893
Homeownership rate: 10.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 6.2%
Unemployment rate: 15.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

3,1213,102

Median household income

$23,639$40,339

Median home value

$98,800$256,400

Median gross rent

$733$947

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2020	3,121	$23,639	$98,800	$733
2021	3,381	$29,980	$144,500	$806
2022	2,802	$36,467	$260,200	$902
2023	3,102	$40,339	$256,400	$947

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 517.4%

5 to 1729.2%

18 to 2411.7%

25 to 3415.6%

35 to 446.9%

45 to 546.0%

55 to 647.2%

65 to 743.9%

75 and over2.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	541	17.4%
5 to 17	905	29.2%
18 to 24	363	11.7%
25 to 34	484	15.6%
35 to 44	215	6.9%
45 to 54	185	6.0%
55 to 64	222	7.2%
65 to 74	121	3.9%
75 and over	66	2.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	96	3.1%
Black or African American	395	12.7%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	140	4.5%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,471	79.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma52.8%

High school graduate31.5%

Some college or associate's9.5%

Bachelor's degree1.9%

Graduate or professional degree4.3%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	683	52.8%
High school graduate	407	31.5%
Some college or associate's	123	9.5%
Bachelor's degree	24	1.9%
Graduate or professional degree	56	4.3%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone87.1%

Carpooled0.0%

Public transit1.8%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home9.5%

Other means1.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	718	87.1%
Carpooled	0	0.0%
Public transit	15	1.8%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	78	9.5%
Other means	13	1.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	146	19.6%
15 to 29 min	348	46.6%
30 to 44 min	216	29.0%
45 to 59 min	36	4.8%
60+ min	0	0.0%

Households

Average household size: 3.71
Poverty rate: 47.3% (1,467 of 3,102)

	Count	Share
Family households	690	82.4%
Nonfamily households	147	17.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1988

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	837	93.7%
Vacant	56	6.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	90	10.8%
Renter-occupied	747	89.2%

1-unit, detached48.6%

1-unit, attached4.1%

2 to 4 units8.2%

5 to 19 units20.0%

20 or more units19.0%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	434	48.6%
1-unit, attached	37	4.1%
2 to 4 units	73	8.2%
5 to 19 units	179	20.0%
20 or more units	170	19.0%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0616623
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 0.39 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.3456, -118.9859