Clearlake, California

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Clearlake, compared with California and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Clearlake city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 0613945 · California directory

Population · July 1, 2025
16,893 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+1.1% +180 residents
Household income
$41,867 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$4,414
Home value
$214,200 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$12,941
Monthly gross rent
$1,240 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$165
Median age
38.8 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±3.7
Clearlake, California location in the United States Clearlake, California
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Clearlake is an incorporated city in Lake County, California, part of the Clearlake, CA micropolitan area. With 16,893 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 318th in California and 2,217th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 180 (1.1%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 1.2%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $1,240 a month, 39.1% below the California median. Median household income is $41,867, 57.8% below the California median.

What stands out in Clearlake?

Compared with other California places, Clearlake is most distinctive for lower household incomes, a larger share of cost-burdened renters and lower home values. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Median household income: $41,867, 57.8% below the California median ($99,122); lower than 99% of 466 California places with reliable estimates. Only 4 of 466 California places with reliable estimates are lower.
  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 74.2%, 18.9 percentage points above the California rate (55.3%); higher than 98% of 453 California places with reliable estimates. It ranks 7th of 453 in California.
  • Median home value: $214,200, 70.8% below the California median ($734,700); lower than 98% of 444 California places with reliable estimates. Only 8 of 444 California places with reliable estimates are lower.
  • Unemployment rate (civilian labor force): 14.8%, 8.1 percentage points above the California rate (6.6%); higher than 98% of 375 California places with reliable estimates. It ranks 8th of 375 in California.
  • Median real estate taxes paid: $1,457, 71.6% below the California median ($5,124); lower than 97% of 417 California places with reliable estimates.

How Clearlake compares with California and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among California places with reliable estimates
Measure Clearlake California U.S. Position in California
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +1.2% — — higher than 72% of 483 California places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 1,668 — — lower than 81% of 483 California places
Median household income B19013 $41,867 ±$4,414 $99,122 $80,734 lower than 99% of 466 California places
Median home value B25077 $214,200 ±$12,941 $734,700 $332,700 lower than 98% of 444 California places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $1,457 ±$157 $5,124 $3,119 lower than 97% of 417 California places
Median gross rent B25064 $1,240 ±$165 $2,036 $1,413 lower than 84% of 445 California places
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 74.2% ±8.8 pp 55.3% 51.1% higher than 98% of 453 California places
Homeownership rate B25003 59.5% ±3.5 pp 55.9% 65.2% lower than 50% of 480 California places
Median age B01002 38.8 years ±3.7 37.9 years 38.9 years higher than 50% of 483 California places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 7.9% ±2.1 pp 37.1% 35.7% lower than 96% of 465 California places
Poverty rate B17001 25.5% ±3.5 pp 12.0% 12.5% higher than 95% of 417 California places
People without health insurance B27010 8.1% ±2.2 pp 6.6% 8.4% higher than 71% of 385 California places
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 82.1% ±3.1 pp 93.5% 91.0% lower than 97% of 478 California places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 14.8% ±4.5 pp 6.6% 5.2% higher than 98% of 375 California places
Foreign-born residents B05002 12.6% ±2.0 pp 27.0% 14.1% lower than 86% of 448 California places
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 20.4 — — lower than 84% of 476 California places
Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 +4.6% — — higher than 62% of 470 California places
Workers who work from home B08301 12.2% ±3.6 pp 17.2% 15.1% lower than 63% of 397 California places
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 22.2% ±5.0 pp 19.4% 16.5% higher than 64% of 424 California places
Households without a vehicle B08201 8.8% ±2.9 pp 7.1% 8.4% higher than 86% of 327 California places

Positions compare Clearlake with California places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation.

How many people live in Clearlake?

The latest official estimate is 16,893 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 2,217th by population nationally and 318th in California among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 180 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Clearlake population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 15,765 to 17,400; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 17,400 15,765 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 16,689; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 16,699 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 16,789 +90
July 1, 2022 16,604 -185
July 1, 2023 16,595 -9
July 1, 2024 16,713 +118
July 1, 2025 16,893 +180

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +204 residents (1.2%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Clearlake city, California · Incorporated city · 0613945
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Lake County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Clearlake, CA — Micropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
10.1 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.5 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
1,668 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
38.960045°, -122.633232° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $41,867 ±$4,414 $99,122 ±$310 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $21,287 ±$1,999 $49,513 ±$168 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 16,377
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 4,175 ±574 25.5% ±3.5 pp

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 25.5% (±3.5 percentage points) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $214,200 ±$12,941 $734,700 ±$1,307 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $1,240 ±$165 $2,036 ±$5 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 6,088
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 3,622 ±303 59.5% ±3.5 pp
Renter occupied 2,466 ±317 40.5% ±4.6 pp

Owner-occupied units make up 59.5% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 5.1 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) $1,144 ±$485 Estimate with MOE
1 bedroom $909 ±$378 Estimate with MOE
2 bedrooms $1,056 ±$145 Estimate with MOE
3 bedrooms $1,598 ±$217 Estimate with MOE
4 bedrooms $2,769 ±$605 Estimate with MOE
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 13,048
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 6,344 ±479 48.6% ±3.4 pp
Not in the labor force 6,704 ±537 51.4% ±3.8 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 6,344
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 5,408 ±413 85.2% ±1.0 pp
Civilian unemployed 936 ±296 14.8% ±4.5 pp

These estimates describe residents of Clearlake wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Clearlake. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 29.0% (1,570 people; ±4.5 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 5,408
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 312 ±145 5.8% ±2.6 pp
Construction 383 ±193 · low precision 7.1% ±3.5 pp
Manufacturing 230 ±139 · low precision 4.3% ±2.5 pp · low precision
Wholesale trade 151 ±91 · low precision 2.8% ±1.7 pp · low precision
Retail trade 588 ±193 10.9% ±3.5 pp
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 261 ±139 · low precision 4.8% ±2.5 pp · low precision
Information 40 ±35 · low precision 0.7% ±0.6 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 111 ±89 · low precision 2.1% ±1.6 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 364 ±162 6.7% ±3.0 pp
Education, health care and social assistance 1,570 ±272 29.0% ±4.5 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 417 ±171 7.7% ±3.1 pp
Other services, except public administration 292 ±128 5.4% ±2.3 pp
Public administration 689 ±234 12.7% ±4.2 pp

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 5,408
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 1,242 ±323 23.0% ±5.7 pp
Service occupations 1,751 ±316 32.4% ±5.3 pp
Sales and office 1,278 ±318 23.6% ±5.6 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 634 ±161 11.7% ±2.8 pp
Production, transportation and material moving 503 ±196 9.3% ±3.6 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 5,408
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 392 ±195 7.2% ±3.6 pp
Computer and mathematical occupations 42 ±43 · low precision 0.8% ±0.8 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 393 ±230 · low precision 7.3% ±4.2 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 156 ±97 · low precision 2.9% ±1.8 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 443 ±157 8.2% ±2.8 pp
Transportation occupations 239 ±154 · low precision 4.4% ±2.8 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 5,221
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 3,611 ±486 69.2% ±7.4 pp
Carpooled 642 ±265 12.3% ±5.0 pp
Public transportation 89 ±81 · low precision 1.7% ±1.5 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 11 ±19 · low precision 0.2% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±21 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Bicycle 0 ±21 · low precision 0.0% ±0.4 pp · low precision
Walked 167 ±106 · low precision 3.2% ±2.0 pp · low precision
Other means 64 ±59 · low precision 1.2% ±1.1 pp · low precision
Worked from home 637 ±197 12.2% ±3.6 pp
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 4,584
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 1,830 ±362 39.9% ±6.7 pp
15–29 minutes 850 ±287 18.5% ±6.0 pp
30–44 minutes 888 ±296 19.4% ±6.1 pp
45–59 minutes 187 ±87 4.1% ±1.9 pp
60 minutes or longer 829 ±239 18.1% ±4.9 pp
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 6,088
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 538 ±177 8.8% ±2.9 pp

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 38.8 years (±3.7). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with California and the U.S.

Read Clearlake demographics →

How many jobs are located in Clearlake?

Employers in Clearlake reported 3,379 jobs in 2023, +4.6% compared with 2019 (3,231 jobs). That is 20.4 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate, so most employed residents are likely to work elsewhere. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Clearlake by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs California share
Health care and social assistance 1,755 51.9% 16.1%
Retail trade 727 21.5% 8.7%
Accommodation and food services 213 6.3% 9.3%
Educational services 141 4.2% 8.6%
Construction 121 3.6% 5.2%
Management of companies and enterprises 84 2.5% 1.5%
Public administration 79 2.3% 4.2%
Other services, except public administration 45 1.3% 3.2%
Administrative, support and waste management services 44 1.3% 6.2%
Utilities 31 0.9% 0.6%
Professional, scientific and technical services 31 0.9% 7.9%
Finance and insurance 28 0.8% 2.9%
Wholesale trade 20 0.6% 3.7%
Transportation and warehousing 19 0.6% 4.4%
Information 18 0.5% 4.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 13 0.4% 1.7%
Manufacturing 6 0.2% 7.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.1% 1.9%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 1 0.0% 2.1%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Clearlake · 2023
Group Jobs Share California share
$1,250 a month or less 735 21.8% 15.5%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 1,337 39.6% 24.9%
More than $3,333 a month 1,307 38.7% 59.6%
Age 29 or younger 648 19.2% 20.0%
Age 30 to 54 1,791 53.0% 55.2%
Age 55 or older 940 27.8% 24.8%

Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Clearlake (51.9% of local jobs, compared with 16.1% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

No station in the retained NOAA release meets our complete standard-normal criteria within 25 km of this place’s Census internal point. We leave local climate values unavailable. Use NOAA’s station lookup to inspect other locations and their coverage.

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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