City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Bret Harte, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bret Harte - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,807
Residents
$42,422
Median income
$289,300
Median home
$1,758
Median rent (state)

Bret Harte - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Bret Harte lands in the 10th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

10th
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
72nd
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: Bret Harte, CA

4,807 people live in Bret Harte, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Bret Harte households earn a median of $42,422 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 42.4%. Bret Harte's housing stock carries a median value of $289,300, and the median resident age is 23.5 years. About 1.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,758 per month. 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 96.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

4,807 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$42,422 /yr

Poverty 42.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Bret Harte compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% 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 Bret Harte against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Bret Harte's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bret Harte ranks #34 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bret Harte only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,261 of 1,338
6th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#809 of 1,458
42nd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,074 of 1,343
20th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#34 of 1,450
98th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,401 of 1,458
4th percentile in California

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.

10thIncome percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bret Harte's home value compares nationally

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

$289,300 37th percentile more affordable than 37% of 15,600 US cities

$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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Bret Harte $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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bret Harte, CA Bret Harte, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bret Harte, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bret Harte, CA median $42,422/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%
Bret Harte, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bret Harte, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 1.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 42.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.7%

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

Population
4,807
Median Income
$42,422
Median Home Value
$289,300
Median Age
23.5
Poverty Rate
42.4%
Labor force participation
50.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
1.8%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.4%
Carpool
9.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
3.4%

Based on 1,402 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bret Harte sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,758/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Indian Wells
4,830 people
Needles
4,882 people
Mather
4,729 people
Santa Ynez
4,725 people
Goshen
4,895 people
Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County)
4,895 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bret Harte's 4,807 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ipswich, MA
4,806 people
Reedurban, OH
4,808 people
Flourtown, PA
4,810 people
Littlestown, PA
4,810 people
Ashland, MO
4,811 people
Fountain Hill, PA
4,811 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bret Harte's $42,422 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Parkersburg, IL
$42,417 median income
Glasgow, KY
$42,417 median income
Quaker City, OH
$42,417 median income
Grundy, VA
$42,417 median income
Lanett, AL
$42,415 median income
Ironton, MO
$42,415 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bret Harte, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bret Harte, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 27.9% 21.9% 49.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 92.4% White 27.9% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 21.9% Two or more races 49.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bret Harte compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bret Harte (this city) 4,807 $42,422
Indian Wells 4,830 $145,313
Needles 4,882 $39,876
Mather 4,729 $140,941
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bret Harte, CA?

What is the population of Bret Harte, CA? +

Bret Harte, CA has a population of 4,807 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bret Harte, CA? +

Bret Harte households earn a median of $42,422 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bret Harte? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bret Harte; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bret Harte, CA? +

Bret Harte's median home value sits at $289,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

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

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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.