City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Vandenberg, CA

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

6,793
Residents
$104,714
Median income
$577,500
Median home
$3,124
Median rent (state)

Vandenberg - the verdict

Vandenberg ranks in the 80th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
88th
percentile, home value
98th
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: Vandenberg, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 6,793 residents in Vandenberg, a small town within California. The typical household in Vandenberg brings in $104,714 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.2%. Vandenberg's housing stock carries a median value of $577,500, and the median resident age is 42.8 years. 33.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 54.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,124 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

6,793 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$104,714 /yr

Poverty 2.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Vandenberg compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 88% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% 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 Vandenberg 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 Vandenberg toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Vandenberg ranks #266 - the 80th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Vandenberg only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#458 of 1,338
66th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#266 of 1,458
80th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#611 of 1,343
55th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,102 of 1,450
24th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#552 of 1,458
62nd 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.

80thIncome percentile

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

How Vandenberg's home value compares nationally

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

$577,500 12th percentile more affordable than 12% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Vandenberg $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 - Vandenberg, CA Vandenberg, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vandenberg, 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 Vandenberg, CA median $104,714/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%
Vandenberg, 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 Vandenberg, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.0%

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

Population
6,793
Median Income
$104,714
Median Home Value
$577,500
Median Age
42.8
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Labor force participation
54.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.0%
Carpool
7.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
6.3%
Other
1.1%

Based on 3,175 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 Vandenberg sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,124/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Paradise
6,793 people
Loomis
6,809 people
Joshua Tree
6,767 people
Lake Mathews
6,749 people
Ben Lomond
6,849 people
Nuevo
6,737 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vandenberg's 6,793 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
6,793 people
Donaldsonville, LA
6,792 people
Bowleys Quarters, MD
6,795 people
Marshall, MI
6,797 people
Bennettsville, SC
6,798 people
Sturtevant, WI
6,787 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vandenberg's $104,714 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Perry Hall, MD
$104,709 median income
North Zanesville, OH
$104,725 median income
Tangerine, FL
$104,730 median income
North Patchogue, NY
$104,698 median income
Aspen Park, CO
$104,732 median income
Apison, TN
$104,741 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vandenberg, 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 Vandenberg, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.9% 10.9% 15.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 31.1% White 64.9% Black or African American 2.9% Asian 2.3% American Indian 3.4% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 10.9% Two or more races 15.4% 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 Vandenberg 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
Vandenberg (this city) 6,793 $104,714
Paradise 6,793 $67,042
Loomis 6,809 $103,435
Joshua Tree 6,767 $64,036
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vandenberg, CA?

What is the population of Vandenberg, CA? +

Vandenberg, CA counts 6,793 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Vandenberg, the typical household earns $104,714 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vandenberg? +

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

A typical home in Vandenberg is worth $577,500, 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.