City · California
Williams, California
Williams, city, in Colusa County, California. Williams had 5,529 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,538 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,585 (±24). GEOID 0685586.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,529
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,538 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,585 ±24
Median household income
$90,761
±$22,136 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$370,000
±$19,220 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,184
±$326 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Williams and what county is it in?
Williams is a city in Colusa County, California. It covers 4.9 square miles of land, 1,120 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Williams, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,529 people lived in Williams on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 5,538 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,585 (±24).
| Measure | Williams | Colusa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,585 ±24 | 21,984 | +357 |
| Households | 1,576 ±171 | 7,512 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.46 ±0.38 | 2.89 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,685 ±195 | 8,211 | no clear change |
Williams's population since 2000
From 3,670 in 2000 to 5,529 in 2025: up 50.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Williams as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Williams?
The median resident of Williams is 30.4 years old; 30.6% are under 18 and 9.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 85.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 14.6%. 35.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Williams | Colusa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.4 ±2.2 | 35.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 30.6% ±3.5 pts | 26.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 9.7% ±3.2 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Male | 50.9% ±3.2 pts | 52.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 85.2% ±5.3 pts | 62.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 14.6% ±5.3 pts | 29.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 35.8% ±4.5 pts | 27.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 70.9% ±8.0 pts | 53.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| With a disability | 9.8% ±3.5 pts | 12.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.0% ±4.3 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 65.1% ±8.4 pts | 74.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.5% ±8.2 pts | 16.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.4% ±2.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.7% ±3.8 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Williams earn?
Half of Williams's 1,576 households earn less than $90,761 a year (±$22,136), against $75,672 in Colusa County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $80,709 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Williams | Colusa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $90,761 ±$22,136 | $75,672 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $96,299 ±$17,031 | $95,368 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,552 ±$5,071 | $33,882 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3% ±6.6 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.9% ±11.9 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.4% ±11.1 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.3% ±4.4 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.2% ±5.9 pts | 84.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Williams?
Owners occupy 53.5% of Williams's occupied homes and renters 46.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $370,000 by its owner (±$19,220). The median renter pays $1,184 a month including utilities, and 46.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Williams | Colusa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $370,000 ±$19,220 | $393,400 | +$87,556 |
| Median gross rent | $1,184 ±$326 | $1,157 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.3% ±18.3 pts | 45.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,960 ±$268 | $2,048 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.5% ±9.2 pts | 62.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.5% ±9.2 pts | 37.8% | – |
| Housing units | 1,685 ±195 | 8,211 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.9% ±8.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.8% ±5.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.9% ±5.7 pts | 80.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% ±1.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.9% ±5.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.8% ±5.9 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.1% ±3.8 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.2% ±3.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Williams building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Williams in 2025 (7 in single-family houses), 2.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Williams work and get to work?
84.3% of Williams's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 17.2%.
| Measure | Williams | Colusa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 73.9% ±6.2 pts | 63.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 17.2% ±6.5 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.3% ±7.3 pts | 82.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.6% ±6.6 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.0% ±2.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.0 min ±4.7 | 24.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Williams?
1 census tract lies mostly in Williams, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3.01Colusa County | 4,197 | $83,774 |
| Tract 3.02Colusa County | 2,592 | $99,045 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Williams) · Census block assignment files
How does Williams compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Williams is the 4,633rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 422nd-most populous of 483 in California.
Williams ranks 553rd of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 422nd | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 176th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 728th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 553rd | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 821st | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 817th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 865th | 987 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 818th | 988 |
| Median age | 979th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 837th | 1,064 |
| Travel time to work | 659th | 1,069 |
Williams's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Williams with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Williams?
20 of the 57 figures for Williams on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Williams are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Williams.