Mendocino County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Mendocino County, California, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Mendocino County, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Mendocino County, California. The estimated population of Mendocino County, California is 91,534 people, with a median age of 43.6.

We can look at the total population in Mendocino County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
91,534
+5.08%
+4.61%
2020
87,110
 -0.13% -
2019
87,224
 -0.23% -
2018
87,422
 -0.09% -
2017
87,497
 - -

Population of Mendocino County, California by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
63.4%
65.9%
 -3.79%
Black/African American
0.6%
0.6%
 0.00%
Native
3%
3.3%
 -9.09%
Hispanic
26.3%
24.5%
 +7.35%
Asian
2.2%
1.7%
 +29.41%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%
Two Or More Races
3.8%
3.5%
 +8.57%
Other
0.5%
0.3%
 +66.67%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Mendocino County, California by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 43.6 +0.46% 42.6 +0.95% 44.8 0%
2020 43.4 +0.7% 42.2 +0.96% 44.8 +0.22%
2019 43.1 +0.7% 41.8 +1.46% 44.7 +0.45%
2018 42.8 +0.94% 41.2 +2.49% 44.5 +0.45%
2017 42.4 - 40.2 - 44.3 -

The median age of Mendocino County, California gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 5,397 +4.94% 5,375 +3.94% 5,645 5,581
10 to 19 5,436 -2.49% 4,814 +6.95% 5,296 5,141
20 to 29 5,087 -2.47% 4,498 +2.41% 4,960 4,605
30 to 39 5,789 -3.15% 5,053 -0.32% 5,588 5,033
40 to 49 4,579 +15.85% 5,044 +5.11% 5,339 5,295
50 to 59 5,863 -1.06% 6,249 +3.52% 5,782 6,440
60 to 69 6,660 -4.13% 7,147 -5.71% 6,373 6,742
70+ 4,857 +30.99% 5,649 +24.74% 6,541 7,173

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Mendocino County, California is $56,378.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Mendocino County.

  • Under 25
    $37,394.00
  • 25 to 44
    $60,669.00
  • 45 to 64
    $58,766.00
  • 65 and over
    $50,080.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Mendocino County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Mendocino County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Mendocino County, California is currently $78,750.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

5.38% of households in Mendocino County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Mendocino County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    21.46%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.11%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.76%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    10.66%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    15.53%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.10%
  • $200,000 or more
    5.38%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Mendocino County is $31,324.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Mendocino County by the total population of Mendocino County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Mendocino County, California, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Mendocino County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    12.00%
  • Bachelor's degree
    26.75%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    15.92%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    42.31%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.01%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Mendocino County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Mendocino County over the age of 16 is 74,342.

Of those people, a total of 57.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Mendocino County is 52.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 4,471 40.10% 13.20%
20 to 24 years 4,720 80.70% 13.90%
25 to 29 years 4,845 75.70% 15.30%
30 to 34 years 5,178 75.00% 15.00%
35 to 44 years 10,869 76.10% 5.90%
45 to 54 years 10,764 72.70% 5.90%
55 to 59 years 6,666 72.80% 6.50%
60 to 64 years 6,332 58.70% 2.70%
65 to 74 years 13,184 31.90% 7.80%
75 years and over 7,313 8.20% 1.80%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Mendocino County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 59,351 56.30% 8.10%
Black or African American 588 52.20% 1.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 2,915 62.00% 13.80%
Asian 1,878 61.10% 9.80%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 117 70.10% 19.50%
Other 4,280 65.00% 6.30%
Two or more races 5,213 59.40% 11.20%
Hispanic or Latino 16,434 68.80% 10.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 50,557 53.80% 7.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Mendocino County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Mendocino County is 38,972, with median earnings of $33,893.00.

Women in Mendocino County, California earning approximately 75.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 38,972 $33,893.00
Male 20,521 $37,999.00
Female 18,451 $28,733.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 4,835 $53,476.00
Business and Financial 1,268 $60,543.00
Computer and Mathematical 326 $39,886.00
Architecture and Engineering 306 $52,892.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 632 $51,588.00
Community and Social Service 990 $46,037.00
Legal 350 $120,164.00
Educational and Library 1,704 $30,928.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 461 $35,813.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,694 $85,109.00
Healthcare Support 1,998 $22,290.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 383 $43,487.00
Law Enforcement 225 $83,295.00
Food Preparation and Serving 2,645 $18,469.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 2,157 $20,765.00
Personal Care and Service 1,071 $12,867.00
Sales 4,358 $32,124.00
Office and Administrative Support 4,527 $34,306.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,529 $19,578.00
Construction and Extraction 2,682 $42,292.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 922 $44,381.00
Production 1,609 $31,197.00
Transportation and Material Moving 1,090 $33,704.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 2,824 $52,513.00 2,011 $57,513.00
Business and Financial 588 $69,621.00 680 $55,606.00
Computer and Mathematical 259 $34,934.00 67 $61,089.00
Architecture and Engineering 257 $54,044.00 49 $43,601.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 220 $65,875.00 412 $51,478.00
Community and Social Service 343 $54,940.00 647 $40,401.00
Legal 150 $117,500.00 200 $120,164.00
Educational and Library 408 $40,000.00 1,296 $29,470.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 256 $25,637.00 205 $56,094.00
Healthcare Practitioners 622 $107,358.00 1,072 $68,500.00
Healthcare Support 359 $23,642.00 1,639 $21,430.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 358 $56,250.00 25 $40,547.00
Law Enforcement 213 $84,659.00 12 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 593 $12,540.00 2,052 $20,267.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 1,400 $30,318.00 757 $17,898.00
Personal Care and Service 204 $11,419.00 867 $13,310.00
Sales 2,207 $35,059.00 2,151 $20,863.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,468 $33,259.00 3,059 $34,605.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,286 $19,094.00 243 $20,575.00
Construction and Extraction 2,620 $42,247.00 62 $80,221.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 877 $44,768.00 45 $2,499.00
Production 1,340 $31,559.00 269 $29,635.00
Transportation and Material Moving 841 $53,696.00 249 $13,354.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 34,183 households in Mendocino County, with an average household size of 2.61 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 20,772 families in Mendocino County with an average family size of 3.3 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 14,508 1,737 4,527 13,411
Average Household Size 3.31 3.96 3.79 1.28
Total Families 14,508 1,737 4,527 0
Average Household Size 3.23 3.53 3.44 0

Poverty

Of the 20,772 families in Mendocino County, 11.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Mendocino County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 41,276 housing units in Mendocino County, California.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 34,183 82.82%
Vacant 7,093 17.18%

30.21% of the total 41,276 housing units in Mendocino County are rental units. This is approximately 12,468 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 20,603 are occupied by the owner - or 49.92% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Mendocino County is $1,176.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Mendocino County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    1,112
  • Less than $500
    1,845
  • $500 to $999
    2,673
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    4,216
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    2,570
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    889
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    169
  • $3,000 or more
    106

Property Value

The median value of a property in Mendocino County is $417,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Mendocino County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    1,007
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,208
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    419
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    572
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    2,158
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    7,705
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    6,109
  • $1,000,000 or more
    1,425

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Mendocino County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Mendocino County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    4,726
  • 1940 to 1949
    2,136
  • 1950 to 1959
    4,591
  • 1960 to 1969
    3,726
  • 1970 to 1979
    9,191
  • 1980 to 1989
    6,779
  • 1990 to 1999
    5,031
  • 2000 to 2009
    3,950
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,131
  • 2014 or later
    15

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Mendocino County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    2,589
  • 1 vehicle available
    10,945
  • 2 vehicles available
    11,524
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    9,125

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Mendocino County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Mendocino County that commute to work in a particular way.

20.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Mendocino County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    2,231
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    7,293
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    7,641
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    5,458
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    2,543
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    890
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    3,230
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    604
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    456
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,010
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    1,331
  • 90 or more minutes
    1,290

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Mendocino County, California in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Mendocino County, California

We have data for 32 places in Mendocino County, California. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.