City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Lindsay, CA

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

12,572
Residents
$50,563
Median income
$268,400
Median home
$1,474
Median rent (state)

Lindsay - the verdict

Nationally, Lindsay sits in the 20th percentile for household income and the 34th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

20th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
58th
percentile, median rent
34th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Lindsay, CA

12,572 people live in Lindsay, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Lindsay brings in $50,563 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 26.6%. Lindsay's housing stock carries a median value of $268,400, and the median resident age is 31.4 years. 5.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Lindsay (Growing), up 11% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 1903.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 62.9°F with 12.1 inches of precipitation per year and 0.2 inches of snowfall.

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,474 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Lindsay report an average commute of 27.6 minutes, with 73.9% driving alone and 5.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

12,572 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$50,563 /yr

Poverty 26.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Lindsay compare to other US cities?

Where Lindsay sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 58% pricier than other cities
Safety 34% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Lindsay ranks #220 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lindsay 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 Lindsay's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lindsay ranks #106 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lindsay only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,179 of 1,338
12th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,267 of 1,458
11th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,127 of 1,343
16th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#106 of 1,450
93rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,329 of 1,458
9th 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.

20thIncome percentile
34thSafety percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income · 34th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lindsay's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lindsay's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Lindsay's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lindsay's home value compares nationally

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

$268,400 41st percentile more affordable than 41% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lindsay $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 - Lindsay, CA Lindsay, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lindsay, 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 Lindsay, CA median $50,563/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%
Lindsay, 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 Lindsay, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 26.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.7%

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

Population
12,572
Median Income
$50,563
Median Home Value
$268,400
Median Age
31.4
Poverty Rate
26.6%
Labor force participation
48.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1903.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
449.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1453.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.9°F
Annual Precipitation
12.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,550 residents12,600 residents12,650 residents12,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,660 residents 12,578 residents ▼ -0.6%
Lindsay's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 9
2020 10
2021 4
2022 51
2023 8
2024 10

Permit volume increased 11% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
27.6 minutes
Drive Alone
73.9%
Carpool
17.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.1%
Work from Home
5.8%

Based on 4,322 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 Lindsay sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,474/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Kingsburg
12,589 people
Mendota
12,554 people
Diamond Springs
12,642 people
Big Bear
12,493 people
Grover Beach
12,687 people
Marysville
12,703 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lindsay's 12,572 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Castle Pines, CO
12,573 people
Geneva, NY
12,573 people
Port Washington, WI
12,569 people
Richton Park, IL
12,576 people
Ridgefield, WA
12,576 people
Levelland, TX
12,565 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lindsay's $50,563 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Roland, OK
$50,563 median income
Greenville, NC
$50,564 median income
New Llano, LA
$50,568 median income
Grand Saline, TX
$50,568 median income
Winchester, KS
$50,556 median income
Canton, MN
$50,556 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lindsay, 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 Lindsay, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 22.5% 45.6% 28.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 88.5% White 22.5% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.2% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 45.6% Two or more races 28.6% 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 Lindsay 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
Lindsay (this city) 12,572 $50,563
Kingsburg 12,589 $82,562
Mendota 12,554 $46,458
Diamond Springs 12,642 $83,288
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lindsay, CA?

What is the population of Lindsay, CA? +

Lindsay, CA has a population of 12,572 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lindsay, CA? +

The median household income in Lindsay is $50,563 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lindsay? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lindsay; 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.

Is Lindsay, CA safe? +

Lindsay has a total crime rate of 1903.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lindsay, CA? +

Homes in Lindsay carry a median value of $268,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lindsay? +

The average annual temperature in Lindsay runs 62.9°F, 12.1 inches of precipitation, and 0.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.