City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Castro Valley, CA

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

65,389
Residents
$138,069
Median income
$1,058,200
Median home
$2,912
Median rent (state)

Castro Valley - the verdict

Castro Valley ranks in the 92nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

92nd
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
97th
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: Castro Valley, CA

Castro Valley is a small city in California, home to 65,389 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Castro Valley brings in $138,069 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Castro Valley's housing stock carries a median value of $1,058,200, and the median resident age is 42.8 years. Educational attainment runs 43.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 61.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 15 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $2,912 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). The average commute for Castro Valley workers runs 27.4 minutes, with 65.7% driving alone and 18.4% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

65,389 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$138,069 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Castro Valley compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 92% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 97% 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 Castro Valley against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Castro Valley toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Castro Valley ranks #210 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Castro Valley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#222 of 1,338
83rd percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#352 of 1,458
71st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#210 of 1,343
84th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#862 of 1,450
40th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#355 of 1,458
76th 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.

92ndIncome percentile

92nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Castro Valley's home value compares nationally

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

$1,058,200 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% 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%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Castro Valley $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 - Castro Valley, CA Castro Valley, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley, CA median $138,069/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%
Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.9%

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

Population
65,389
Median Income
$138,069
Median Home Value
$1,058,200
Median Age
42.8
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
61.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.9%

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
27.4 minutes
Drive Alone
65.7%
Carpool
7.7%
Public Transit
5.9%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
18.4%
Other
1.2%

Based on 31,950 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 Castro Valley sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,912/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Lynwood
65,291 people
Brentwood
64,609 people
South San Francisco
64,487 people
Laguna Niguel
64,023 people
Davis
66,801 people
Lodi
67,008 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Castro Valley's 65,389 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dundalk, MD
65,441 people
Malden, MA
65,509 people
Victoria, TX
65,514 people
Lorain, OH
65,207 people
Pflugerville, TX
65,162 people
Kenner, LA
65,113 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Castro Valley's $138,069 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Park Ridge, IL
$138,059 median income
Vineyards, FL
$138,042 median income
Hiddenite, NC
$138,098 median income
Chanhassen, MN
$138,034 median income
Twin Lakes CDP (Lake County), CO
$138,025 median income
Lakeville, MN
$138,119 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Castro Valley, 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 Castro Valley, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.3% 8.7% 34.1% 12.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.6% White 38.3% Black or African American 8.7% Asian 34.1% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 5.6% Two or more races 12.3% 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 Castro Valley 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
Castro Valley (this city) 65,389 $138,069
Lynwood 65,291 $70,236
Brentwood 64,609 $139,567
South San Francisco 64,487 $135,909
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Castro Valley, CA?

What is the population of Castro Valley, CA? +

Castro Valley, CA counts 65,389 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Castro Valley, CA? +

Median annual household income in Castro Valley runs $138,069, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Castro Valley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Castro Valley; 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 Castro Valley, CA? +

The median home value in Castro Valley is $1,058,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.