City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Willows, CA

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

6,239
Residents
$78,179
Median income
$286,200
Median home
$1,362
Median rent (state)

Willows - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Willows places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
52nd
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: Willows, CA

California's Willows is a small town, with 6,239 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Willows brings in $78,179 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.6%. Typical homes in Willows are valued around $286,200, and the median resident age is 35.0 years. About 19.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 60.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 63.7°F with 21.9 inches of precipitation per year.

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 $1,362 per month statewide. 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 74.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

6,239 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$78,179 /yr

Poverty 11.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Willows compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 52% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Willows's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Willows's home value compares nationally

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

$286,200 37th percentile more affordable than 37% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Willows $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 - Willows, CA Willows, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Willows, 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 Willows, CA median $78,179/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%
Willows, 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 Willows, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.5%

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

Population
6,239
Median Income
$78,179
Median Home Value
$286,200
Median Age
35.0
Poverty Rate
11.6%
Labor force participation
60.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
63.7°F
Annual Precipitation
21.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,100 residents6,150 residents6,200 residents6,250 residents6,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,275 residents 6,116 residents ▼ -2.5%
Willows's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 25
2021 0
2022 1
2023 4
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.9%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.3%
Work from Home
6.2%
Other
6.3%

Based on 2,904 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 Willows sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,362/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Salton
6,244 people
Wilton
6,198 people
Crescent City
6,180 people
Hilmar-Irwin
6,317 people
Lucas Valley-Marinwood
6,331 people
El Rio
6,343 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Willows's 6,239 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Crystal City, TX
6,241 people
Princeton, KY
6,242 people
Silver Lake, NC
6,242 people
Sidney, MT
6,235 people
Loudon, TN
6,235 people
Rochester, IN
6,244 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Willows's $78,179 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Maysville, GA
$78,182 median income
Veazie, ME
$78,182 median income
Winfield, PA
$78,182 median income
Keene, NH
$78,183 median income
Jeffersontown, KY
$78,185 median income
Lafourche Crossing, LA
$78,173 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Willows, 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 Willows, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.3% 6.5% 15.6% 21.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.2% White 55.3% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 6.5% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 15.6% Two or more races 21.1% 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 Willows 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
Willows (this city) 6,239 $78,179
Salton 6,244 $36,915
Wilton 6,198 $171,579
Crescent City 6,180 $41,131
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Willows, CA?

What is the population of Willows, CA? +

Willows, CA counts 6,239 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Willows runs $78,179, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Willows? +

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

Homes in Willows carry a median value of $286,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Willows? +

Willows has an average annual temperature of 63.7°F, 21.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.