City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Searles Valley, CA

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

1,698
Residents
$65,625
Median income
$68,500
Median home
$1,514
Median rent (state)

Searles Valley - the verdict

Searles Valley ranks in the 44th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

44th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
60th
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: Searles Valley, CA

Searles Valley is a small town in California, home to 1,698 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $65,625 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.9%. Typical homes in Searles Valley are valued around $68,500, and the median resident age is 33.3 years. 14.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $1,514 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 79.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

1,698 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$65,625 /yr

Poverty 14.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Searles Valley compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% 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 Searles 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 Searles Valley near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Searles Valley ranks #1,337 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Searles Valley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#977 of 1,338
27th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,167 of 1,458
19th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,337 of 1,343
0th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#294 of 1,450
79th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,076 of 1,458
26th 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.

44thIncome percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Searles Valley's home value compares nationally

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

$68,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Searles 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 - Searles Valley, CA Searles Valley, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Searles 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 Searles Valley, CA median $65,625/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%
Searles 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 Searles Valley, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.9%

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

Population
1,698
Median Income
$65,625
Median Home Value
$68,500
Median Age
33.3
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Labor force participation
48.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.1%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.5%
Carpool
13.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.3%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
0.7%

Based on 549 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 Searles Valley sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,514/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Temelec
1,696 people
London
1,701 people
Santa Nella
1,686 people
Elizabeth Lake
1,677 people
Descanso
1,670 people
McClellan Park
1,665 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Searles Valley's 1,698 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ellaville, GA
1,698 people
Fannett, TX
1,698 people
Lluveras comunidad, PR
1,698 people
Cairo, IL
1,699 people
Angola on the Lake, NY
1,699 people
Horse Shoe, NC
1,699 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Searles Valley's $65,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Highland Lake, AL
$65,625 median income
Danville, AR
$65,625 median income
Saunemin, IL
$65,625 median income
Barbee, IN
$65,625 median income
Elizabethtown, IN
$65,625 median income
New Carlisle, IN
$65,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Searles 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 Searles Valley, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.2% 7.8% 14.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 22.3% White 73.2% Black or African American 2.2% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.8% Two or more races 14.8% 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 Searles 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
Searles Valley (this city) 1,698 $65,625
Temelec 1,696 $73,654
London 1,701 $48,618
Santa Nella 1,686 $87,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Searles Valley, CA?

What is the population of Searles Valley, CA? +

Searles Valley, CA counts 1,698 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Searles Valley is $65,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Searles Valley? +

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

A typical home in Searles Valley is worth $68,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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