City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Penn Valley, CA

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

1,197
Residents
$62,966
Median income
$530,100
Median home
$1,550
Median rent (state)

Penn Valley - the verdict

Nationally, Penn Valley sits in the 40th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

40th
percentile, household income
86th
percentile, home value
61st
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: Penn Valley, CA

1,197 people live in Penn Valley, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Penn Valley households earn a median of $62,966 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Home values in Penn Valley run a median of $530,100, and the median resident age is 52.7 years. 17.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 49.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,550 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.9 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,197 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$62,966 /yr

Poverty 2.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Penn Valley compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 86% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% 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 Penn 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 Gross Rent places Penn Valley toward the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Penn Valley ranks #1,034 - the 25th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Penn Valley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,015 of 1,338
24th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,034 of 1,458
25th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#663 of 1,343
51st percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,083 of 1,450
25th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#956 of 1,458
34th 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.

40thIncome percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Penn Valley's home value compares nationally

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

$530,100 14th percentile more affordable than 14% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Penn 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 - Penn Valley, CA Penn Valley, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Penn 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 Penn Valley, CA median $62,966/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%
Penn 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 Penn Valley, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.3%

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

Population
1,197
Median Income
$62,966
Median Home Value
$530,100
Median Age
52.7
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
49.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.8%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.5%
Carpool
12.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 534 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 Penn Valley sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,550/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Taft Mosswood
1,199 people
Sea Ranch
1,200 people
Elkhorn
1,201 people
Mariposa
1,202 people
Fruitdale
1,203 people
Mount Hermon
1,203 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Penn Valley's 1,197 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Carey, ID
1,197 people
Camp Point, IL
1,197 people
Wellsville, MO
1,197 people
Lake Camelot, WI
1,197 people
Peach Springs, AZ
1,196 people
Discovery Harbour, HI
1,198 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Penn Valley's $62,966 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Holland, IN
$62,969 median income
Burlington, OK
$62,969 median income
Clarksville, VA
$62,969 median income
Philmont, NY
$62,972 median income
Palm River-Clair Mel, FL
$62,976 median income
Greensburg, PA
$62,977 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Penn 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 Penn Valley, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.8% 13.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.6% White 84.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 13.6% 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 Penn 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
Penn Valley (this city) 1,197 $62,966
Taft Mosswood 1,199 $55,526
Sea Ranch 1,200 $121,731
Elkhorn 1,201 $124,464
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Penn Valley, CA?

What is the population of Penn Valley, CA? +

Penn Valley, CA counts 1,197 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Penn Valley is $62,966 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Penn Valley? +

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

The median home value in Penn Valley is $530,100, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.