County · California
Inyo County, California
Inyo County, California. Inyo County had 18,158 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). It holds 21 places (1 city, village or borough and 20 census-designated) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 06027.
Inyo County is the county of the Bishop, CA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
18,158
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,016 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,739
Median household income
$73,991
±$4,815 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$348,700
±$43,595 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,189
±$112 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
How many people live in Inyo County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 19,016 residents in Inyo County. The Census Bureau estimates 18,158 for July 1, 2025, down 4.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 18,739 over 10,197 square miles of land.
| Measure | Inyo County | California | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,739 | 39,287,377 | +762 |
| Households | 8,040±209 | 13,548,091 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.25±0.05 | 2.84 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,524±111 | 14,644,735 | no clear change |
Inyo County's population since 2000
From 17,945 in 2000 to 18,158 in 2025: up 1.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Inyo County?
Inyo County holds 21 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 20 census-designated places. The largest is Bishop with 3,696 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Bishop | 3,819 | $83,686 |
|---|---|---|
| Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek | 2,780 | $75,745 |
| West Bishop | 2,754 | $114,653 |
| Lone Pine | 2,014 | $43,284 |
| Big Pine | 1,875 | $67,583 |
| Independence | 593 | $73,850 |
| WilkersonGEOID 0685551 | 543 | $69,519 |
| Round Valley | 482 | $54,375 |
| Mesa | 275 | $123,333 |
| Furnace CreekGEOID 0628021 | 136 | $47,917 |
| OlanchaGEOID 0653490 | 131 | not published |
| TecopaGEOID 0678050 | 120 | not published |
| KeelerGEOID 0637918 | 71 | not published |
| CartagoGEOID 0611600 | 62 | $80,694 |
| Charleston ViewGEOID 0612730 | 45 | not published |
| Homewood CanyonGEOID 0634405 | 40 | not published |
| DarwinGEOID 0618030 | 36 | not published |
| ShoshoneGEOID 0671680 | 22 | not published |
| TronaGEOID 0680515 | 11 | not published |
| PearsonvilleGEOID 0656294 | 8 | not published |
| Valley WellsGEOID 0681925 | 0 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Inyo County?
The median resident of Inyo County is 45.5 years old; 20.2% are under 18 and 24.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.2%. 7.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Inyo County | California | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5±0.5 | 37.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.2%±0.1 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.9%±0.2 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.2% | 40.2% | +1.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 58.0%±0.9 pts | 33.8% | −4.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5%±0.3 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 9.3%±1.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7%±1.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.9%±1.4 pts | 27.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 19.3%±2.4 pts | 44.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.9%±1.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7%±1.8 pts | 11.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0%±1.8 pts | 6.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.0%±1.5 pts | 84.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.5%±2.9 pts | 37.1% | +4.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.5%±2.2 pts | 14.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
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 Inyo County earn?
Half of Inyo County's 8,040 households earn less than $73,991 a year (±$4,815), against $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $70,538 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Inyo County | California | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,991±$4,815 | $99,122 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $94,111±$6,146 | $140,436 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,767±$2,146 | $49,513 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.9%±2.3 pts | 12.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.2%±4.9 pts | 15.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.5%±2.2 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.1%±3.0 pts | 93.5% | – |
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 Inyo County?
Owners occupy 66.4% of Inyo County's occupied homes and renters 33.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $348,700 by its owner (±$43,595). The median renter pays $1,189 a month including utilities, and 27.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Inyo County | California | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $348,700±$43,595 | $734,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,189±$112 | $2,036 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 27.1%±6.6 pts | 46.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,005±$203 | $2,946 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 66.4%±3.6 pts | 55.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,524±111 | 14,644,735 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2%±2.2 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.4%±3.6 pts | 57.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 25.9%±2.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.8%±2.3 pts | 8.9% | – |
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 Inyo County building?
Builders took permits for 10 new housing units across Inyo County in 2025 (10 single-family), 0.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Inyo County get to work?
64.7% of Inyo County's workers drive alone and 11.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.5%.
| Measure | Inyo County | California | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.3%±2.3 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5%±0.7 pts | 6.6% | −1.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 64.7%±4.8 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.1%±3.5 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7%±1.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Walked | 3.6%±1.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.8%±2.6 pts | 17.2% | +8.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.0 min±1.5 | 28.7 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 are Inyo County's census tracts?
Inyo County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $52,500 (Tract 8) to $113,542 (Tract 3).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Inyo County compare with California's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 52nd of 58 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 50th of 58 |
| Residents per square mile | 57th of 58 |
| Median household income | 38th of 58 |
| Median home value | 46th of 58 |
| Median gross rent | 48th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 37th of 57 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26th of 58 |
| Median age | 13th of 58 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Inyo County 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' school search.