City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Occidental, CA

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

1,162
Residents
$104,044
Median income
$1,204,000
Median home
$2,827
Median rent (state)

Occidental - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Occidental places in the 80th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
96th
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: Occidental, CA

Occidental is a small town in California, home to 1,162 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Occidental brings in $104,044 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.9%. Typical homes in Occidental are valued around $1,204,000, and the median resident age is 50.9 years. 67.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 57.6°F with 53.8 inches of precipitation per year.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,827 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

1,162 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$104,044 /yr

Poverty 6.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Occidental compare to other US cities?

Occidental measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 96% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Occidental's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

80thIncome percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Occidental's home value compares nationally

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

$1,204,000 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. Occidental $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 - Occidental, CA Occidental, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Occidental, 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 Occidental, CA median $104,044/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%
Occidental, 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 Occidental, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 67.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.1%

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

Population
1,162
Median Income
$104,044
Median Home Value
$1,204,000
Median Age
50.9
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Labor force participation
60.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
67.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.6°F
Annual Precipitation
53.8"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
33.7%
Carpool
0.8%
Public Transit
3.7%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
59.9%

Based on 596 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 Occidental sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,827/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Biola
1,163 people
Grayson
1,164 people
Ladera
1,160 people
Lake Don Pedro
1,157 people
Laton
1,151 people
Beale AFB
1,174 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Occidental's 1,162 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Inglenook, CT
1,162 people
Cobb Island, MD
1,162 people
Cottage City, MD
1,162 people
Williamsburg, PA
1,162 people
Quinebaug, CT
1,163 people
Chatsworth, IL
1,161 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Occidental's $104,044 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Northfield, NJ
$104,042 median income
Ellerslie, GA
$104,040 median income
Crocker, WA
$104,049 median income
Inver Grove Heights, MN
$104,055 median income
Centre Grove, NJ
$104,028 median income
Lake Goodwin, WA
$104,028 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Occidental, 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 Occidental, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.7% 20.2% 9.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.3% White 64.7% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 4.3% Some other race 20.2% Two or more races 9.5% 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 Occidental 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
Occidental (this city) 1,162 $104,044
Biola 1,163 $40,094
Grayson 1,164 $87,961
Ladera 1,160 $250,001
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Occidental, CA?

What is the population of Occidental, CA? +

Occidental, CA has a population of 1,162 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Occidental, the typical household earns $104,044 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Occidental? +

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

Occidental's median home value sits at $1,204,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Occidental? +

Occidental has an average annual temperature of 57.6°F, 53.8 inches of precipitation. 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 Editorial

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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.