City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Bombay Beach, CA

Bombay Beach's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

313
Residents
$25,968
Median income
$94,300
Median home
$2,053
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Bombay Beach, CA - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Bombay Beach.

Place dossier plate

Sheet CA-BOMBAY-BEACH-CA · Bombay Beach, CA 313 pop · income 2nd pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-ABOVE · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 313
  • INC-LOW $25,968
  • COL-ABOVE 110.7
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 2nd
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Westboro
  • HOME-LOW $94,300
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Westboro, MO (+ $4 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Bombay Beach

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Bombay Beach on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Bombay Beach on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 313.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $25,968. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Bombay Beach - the verdict

Nationally, Bombay Beach sits in the 2nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
88th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bombay Beach, CA

California's Bombay Beach is a small town, with 313 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Bombay Beach brings in $25,968 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 48.7%. Typical homes in Bombay Beach are valued around $94,300, and the median resident age is 54.1 years. Educational attainment runs 10.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 29.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,053 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 88.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Bombay Beach's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to comparison shortlist to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Bombay Beach, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for within-city Census tract profiles, matched public-school count, local building permits, annual population history, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in Bombay Beach?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 65.5%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Bombay Beach?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within California, the closest population matches are Fairhaven (314 residents, $79,453 income); Mesa Vista (315 residents, $114,063 income); Mountain Ranch (310 residents, $160,837 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Greasewood, AZ (313 residents); Keo, AR (313 residents); Bancroft, ID (313 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Bombay Beach?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.6 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 48.7%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

313 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$25,968 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 48.7% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Highest-decile cost · BEA RPP 2024, California average

City profile score · Bombay Beach, CA

3/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share F
10.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living F
110.7 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income F
$25,968

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate F
48.7%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Bombay Beach profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living, Household income, Poverty rate. Bachelor's+ shareCost of livingHousehold incomePoverty rate 3 F
Bombay Beach profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 7/100 (F) · 10.3%
  • Cost of living: 6/100 (F) · 110.7 index
  • Household income: 0/100 (F) · $25,968
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 48.7%

How does Bombay Beach compare to other US cities?

Here's how Bombay Beach stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 88% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bombay Beach against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Bombay Beach near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bombay Beach ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bombay Beach only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,332 of 1,338
0th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,458
0th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,331 of 1,343
1st percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#20 of 1,450
99th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,205 of 1,458
17th percentile in California
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

2ndIncome percentile
Gauge source note

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bombay Beach's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$94,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bombay Beach $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Bombay Beach's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.6×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#9,480 of 15,516
More affordable than 39% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#7,581 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.6×, Bombay Beach sits in the moderate band: national rank #9,480 of 15,516 and #7,581 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$25,968 Bombay Beach, CA median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Bombay Beach, CA Bombay Beach, CA's median household income ($25,968) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Bombay Beach, CA-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Bombay Beach, CA median $25,968/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bombay Beach, CA median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Bombay Beach, CA.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 48.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 29.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
313
Median Income
$25,968
Median Home Value
$94,300
Median Age
54.1
Poverty Rate
48.7%
Labor force participation
29.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.3%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
65.5%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
21.8%
Work from Home
12.6%

Based on 87 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

California statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $275

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across California at $275 (electricity about $150 , water and sewer about $70 ).

These are California statewide averages, not a meter reading for Bombay Beach. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

California's BEA cost-of-living index is 110.7 (Well Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Bombay Beach is $2,053/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to California statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 88.7 / 100 (Very High).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a California statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Bombay Beach sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Bombay Beach compares to similar-size California cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Bombay Beach (this city) 313 $25,968
Fairhaven 314 $79,453
Mesa Vista 315 $114,063
Mountain Ranch 310 $160,837
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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