City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

South Oroville, CA

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

2,811
Residents
$64,785
Median income
$248,400
Median home
$1,625
Median rent (state)

South Oroville - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, South Oroville places in the 43rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
64th
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: South Oroville, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,811 residents in South Oroville, a small town within California. The typical household in South Oroville brings in $64,785 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 15.8%. Typical homes in South Oroville are valued around $248,400, and the median resident age is 34.5 years. About 9.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,625 monthly. 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 93.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

2,811 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$64,785 /yr

Poverty 15.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does South Oroville compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% 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 South Oroville 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 South Oroville toward the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, South Oroville ranks #1,163 - the 13th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares South Oroville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#988 of 1,338
26th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#979 of 1,458
31st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,163 of 1,343
13th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#273 of 1,450
81st percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,215 of 1,458
17th 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.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How South Oroville's home value compares nationally

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

$248,400 45th percentile more affordable than 45% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. South Oroville $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 - South Oroville, CA South Oroville, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not South Oroville, 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 South Oroville, CA median $64,785/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%
South Oroville, 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 South Oroville, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.4%

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

Population
2,811
Median Income
$64,785
Median Home Value
$248,400
Median Age
34.5
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Labor force participation
55.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.9%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.1%
Carpool
15.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
8.4%
Other
1.4%

Based on 1,156 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 South Oroville sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,625/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Riverdale
2,803 people
East Sonora
2,823 people
Fairbanks Ranch
2,794 people
Coronita
2,782 people
Borrego Springs
2,781 people
Lexington Hills
2,777 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to South Oroville's 2,811 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Irvine, KY
2,811 people
Cumberland Center, ME
2,811 people
Westminster, LA
2,810 people
Montgomery City, MO
2,810 people
St. Henry, OH
2,812 people
Spearman, TX
2,809 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to South Oroville's $64,785 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Merrillville, IN
$64,791 median income
Broaddus, TX
$64,779 median income
Hoopers Creek, NC
$64,792 median income
Pittsboro, NC
$64,792 median income
Laureldale, PA
$64,792 median income
Yoe, PA
$64,792 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - South Oroville, 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 South Oroville, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.5% 13.2% 6.5% 9.6% 16.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 27.8% White 53.5% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 13.2% American Indian 6.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.6% Two or more races 16.5% 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 South Oroville 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
South Oroville (this city) 2,811 $64,785
Riverdale 2,803 $54,250
East Sonora 2,823 $85,461
Fairbanks Ranch 2,794 $250,001
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about South Oroville, CA?

What is the population of South Oroville, CA? +

2,811 people live in South Oroville, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in South Oroville, CA? +

The median household income in South Oroville is $64,785 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in South Oroville? +

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

A typical home in South Oroville is worth $248,400, 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.