Wasco, CA

Census Place

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2023 Population

26,222

0.361% 1-year decline

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

US Senator

Adam Schiff

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

30.4

0.662% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

19.2%

6.7% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$55,521

15.4% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$251,900

12.1% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

8,837

1.68% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Wasco, CA had a population of 26.2k people with a median age of 30.4 and a median household income of $55,521. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Wasco, CA declined from 26,317 to 26,222, a −0.361% decrease and its median household income grew from $48,109 to $55,521, a 15.4% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Wasco, CA are Two+ (Hispanic) (42.3%), Other (Hispanic) (24.1%), White (Hispanic) (19.6%), White (Non-Hispanic) (7.07%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.97%).

None of the households in Wasco, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

78.5% of the residents in Wasco, CA are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Wasco, CA was $251,900, and the homeownership rate was 59.1%.

Most people in Wasco, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 22.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Wasco, CA was 2 cars per household.

United States California Kern County, CA Bakersfield, CA Kern County (West)--Delano, Wasco & Shafter Cities PUMA, CA

Population & Diversity

Wasco, CA is home to a population of 26.2k people, from which 78.5% are citizens. As of 2023, 28.6% of Wasco, CA residents were born outside of the country (7.49k people).

In 2023, there were 1.75 times more Two+ (Hispanic) residents (11.1k people) in Wasco, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.33k Other (Hispanic) and 5.14k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

78.5%

2023 Citizenship

78.2%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 78.5% of Wasco, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Wasco, CA was 78.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Wasco, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Wasco, CA

Two+ (Hispanic)
11.1k ± 1.37k
Other (Hispanic)
6.33k ± 1.11k
White (Hispanic)
5.14k ± 926

87.3%

Hispanic Population

22.9k people

87.3% of the people in Wasco, CA are hispanic (22.9k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Wasco, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,899,021 ± 46,015 people
Philippines
824,230 ± 22,055 people
China
685,370 ± 20,148 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,899,021 California residents, followed by Philippines with 824,230 and China with 685,370.

Foreign-Born Population

28.6%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

7.49k people

29.1%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

7.66k people

As of 2023, 28.6% of Wasco, CA residents (7.49k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Wasco, CA was 29.1%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Wasco, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Gulf War (1990s)
145 ± 101
Gulf War (2001-)
67 ± 71
Vietnam
56 ± 65

Wasco, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (1990s), 2.16 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Wasco, CA employs 8.84k people. The largest industries in Wasco, CA are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (2,304 people), Retail Trade (747 people), and Educational Services (718 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($97,991), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($93,971), and Construction ($56,633).

Males in California have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $75,777. The income inequality in California (measured using the Gini index) is 0.498, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

8.84k

2023 Value

± 852

1.68%

1 Year growth

± 13.8%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Wasco, CA grew at a rate of 1.68%, from 8.69k employees to 8.84k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Wasco, CA, are Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (1,717 people), Material Moving Occupations (1,187 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (663 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Wasco, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

8.84k

2023 Value

± 852

1.68%

1 Year growth

± 13.8%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Wasco, CA grew at a rate of 1.68%, from 8.69k employees to 8.84k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Wasco, CA, are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (2,304 people), Retail Trade (747 people), and Educational Services (718 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Wasco, CA, though some of these residents may live in Wasco, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$38,813

Median earning men ± $3,737

$28,463

Median earning women ± $2,952

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($97,011), Construction ($56,888), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($55,897).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Wholesale Trade ($37,222), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($34,225), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($33,942).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Y-Axis

2.57%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 17.9M people employed in California. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Wasco, CA. Showing the available data for California.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (58.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (38.3%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (1.25%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Adam Schiff

Senator from California

Assumed office on December 8, 2024
Elected to the seat to succeed Laphonza Butler, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from California

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for California have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Measure

In 2022, 2.08% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 2.26% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were Some college (6.9M), High School or Equivalent (6.8M), and Bachelors Degree (6.36M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Wasco, CA was $251,900 in 2023, which is 0.83 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $224,700 to $251,900, a 12.1% increase. The homeownership rate in Wasco, CA is 59.1%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Wasco, CA have an average commute time of 22.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Wasco, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$251,900

Median Property Value 2023

±$16,225

$3,526

Median Property Taxes

±$479

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Wasco, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Wasco, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

59.1%

Homeownership

2023

74.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 59.1% of the housing units in Wasco, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 59.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Wasco, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 45
Census Tract 44.02

The following map shows all of the places in Wasco, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$55,521

Median Household Income

± $8,287

5.96k

Number of Households

± 679

In 2023, the median household income of the 5.96k households in Wasco, CA grew to $55,521 from the previous year's value of $48,109.

The following chart displays the households in Wasco, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $60k - $75k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Wasco, CA is from California.

0.498

2022 Wage GINI in California

0.497

2021 Wage GINI in California

In 2022, the income inequality in California was 0.498 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.107% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (78.1%)
Carpooled (17.7%)
Walked (1.99%)

In 2023, 78.1% of workers in Wasco, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (17.7%) and those who walked to work (1.99%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

22.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Wasco, CA have a shorter commute time (22.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.67% of the workforce in Wasco, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Wasco, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Wasco, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Wasco, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Wasco, CA (4.23k out of 22.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Males 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Wasco, CA is Hispanic, followed by Two Or More and White.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

89.3% of the population of Wasco, CA has health coverage, with 36.7% on employee plans, 39.7% on Medicaid, 6.12% on Medicare, 6.34% on non-group plans, and 0.416% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Kern County, CA see 2021 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.0989% decrease from the previous year (2023 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1965 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 437 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Kern County, CA.

2,021 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Kern County, CA

Primary care physicians in Kern County, CA see an average of 2,021 patients per year. This represents a 0.0989% decrease from the previous year (2,023 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Kern County, CA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 34.5% under 18 years, 27.2% between 18 and 34 years, 30.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 7.53% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.8% were men and 50.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

10.7%

Uninsured

36.7%

Employer Coverage

39.7%

Medicaid

6.12%

Medicare

6.34%

Non-Group

0.416%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Wasco, CA grew by 22.2% from 8.77% to 10.7%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Wasco, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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