City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Mojave, CA

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

4,442
Residents
$50,800
Median income
$204,400
Median home
$1,483
Median rent (state)

Mojave - the verdict

Nationally, Mojave sits in the 21st percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

21st
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
59th
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: Mojave, CA

4,442 people live in Mojave, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Mojave households earn a median of $50,800 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 24.7%. Home values in Mojave run a median of $204,400, and the median resident age is 32.4 years. About 6.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 62.5°F with 5.8 inches of precipitation per year and 1.2 inches of snowfall.

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 $1,483 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

4,442 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$50,800 /yr

Poverty 24.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Mojave compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 21% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 59% 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 Mojave 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 Mojave near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Mojave ranks #1,252 - the 7th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Mojave only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,177 of 1,338
12th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,201 of 1,458
13th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,252 of 1,343
7th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#133 of 1,450
91st percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,297 of 1,458
11th 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.

21stIncome percentile

21st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Mojave's home value compares nationally

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

$204,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Mojave $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 - Mojave, CA Mojave, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA median $50,800/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%
Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 24.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.6%

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

Population
4,442
Median Income
$50,800
Median Home Value
$204,400
Median Age
32.4
Poverty Rate
24.7%
Labor force participation
53.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.5°F
Annual Precipitation
5.8"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.2%
Carpool
7.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.3%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,544 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 Mojave sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,483/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Carmel Valley
4,435 people
Oasis
4,455 people
Broadmoor
4,467 people
Greenfield
4,399 people
Ivanhoe
4,397 people
Emerald Lake Hills
4,396 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mojave's 4,442 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mystic, CT
4,441 people
Falfurrias, TX
4,443 people
Huxley, IA
4,440 people
Ottawa, OH
4,439 people
Soldotna, AK
4,448 people
Arabi, LA
4,436 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mojave's $50,800 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Osgood, IN
$50,799 median income
New Iberia, LA
$50,802 median income
Pittsfield, NH
$50,804 median income
Brownstown, PA
$50,804 median income
Keene, TX
$50,796 median income
Moshannon, PA
$50,795 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 29.5% 27.5% 21.0% 19.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 50.2% White 29.5% Black or African American 27.5% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 21.0% Two or more races 19.9% 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 Mojave 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
Mojave (this city) 4,442 $50,800
Carmel Valley 4,435 $164,167
Oasis 4,455 $36,553
Broadmoor 4,467 $161,572
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mojave, CA?

What is the population of Mojave, CA? +

4,442 people live in Mojave, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Mojave runs $50,800, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mojave? +

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

Mojave's median home value sits at $204,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Mojave? +

Climate normals put Mojave's yearly average temperature at 62.5°F, 5.8 inches of precipitation, and 1.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.