Census-designated place · Tehama County, California

Lake California, California

Lake California is a census-designated place in Tehama County, California, part of the Red Bluff, CA metro area. It has 3,808 residents. Lake California, California has a quality-of-life score of 20 out of 100 (very low), ranking #12,583 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within California it ranks #724 of 1,062 cities and towns. It ranks best on drought exposure (low), public EV charging ports (high) and adult obesity (low). It ranks worst on natural hazard risk (high), distance to an emergency room (high) and rent as share of income (high).

20Very low

Quality-of-life score: #12,583 of 15,651 cities and towns
California: #724 of 1,062 in CA
Population: 3,808 (2020-2024)
Land area: 6 mi²
Density: 603.3 /mi²
FIPS code: 0639460

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 75 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety21#12,413/15,637
Economy64#5,697/15,631
Housing7#13,953/14,977
Health37#9,908/15,609
Healthcare48#8,116/15,650
Environment61#5,973/15,453
Education12#13,811/15,649
Infrastructure50#7,845/15,650
Community2#15,355/15,651
Leisure & amenities15#13,229/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Lake California, California ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Tehama County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Drought exposure · low0%
97/100California 9%United States 43%Nov 2025–Oct 2026National Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAATehama County value
Public EV charging ports · high15.8 /10k
91/100California 17.5 /10kUnited States 7.6 /10kOct 2026U.S. Department of EnergyTehama County value
Adult obesity · low27.8%
86/100California 30.4%United States 38.2%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Job growth · high1.6%
85/100California 0.9%United States 0.1%2026 Q1U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsProvisional dataTehama County value
Uninsured residents (under 65) · low3.1%
83/100California 6.9%United States 9.8%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B27010High uncertainty
Physical inactivity · low18.6%
82/100California 23.5%United States 26.5%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate

Weaknesses

Natural hazard risk · high99.2
1/100California 87.32025Federal Emergency Management AgencyTehama County value
Distance to an emergency room · high26.3 mi
1/100California 4.3 miUnited States 5.5 miJul 2026Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesTehama County value
Rent as share of income · high51.0%
2/100California 32.8%United States 30.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25071
Flu vaccinations · low25.0%
3/100California 41.0%United States 44.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteTehama County value
Social associations · low4.3 /10k
4/100California 6.2 /10kUnited States 9.1 /10k2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteTehama County value
Rent-burdened households · high79.5%
4/100California 55.3%United States 51.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25070

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationRising
3,329 (2015-2019) → 3,808 (2020-2024)
+14%5 yearsCensus table B01003US 328,329,953 → 340,003,797
Rent as share of incomeWorsening
32.7% (2015-2019) → 51.0% (2020-2024)
+18 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
21.8% (2015-2019) → 38.4% (2020-2024)
+17 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%
Rent-burdened householdsWorsening
64.7% (2015-2019) → 79.5% (2020-2024)
+15 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%
Median household incomeImproving
$67,063 (2015-2019) → $92,051 (2020-2024)
+37%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Average commute timeImproving
39.6 min (2015-2019) → 28.4 min (2020-2024)
−28%5 yearsCensus table B08013US 26.9 min → 26.4 min

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Lake California, California improved on 1 of 11 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 9 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved1

Bachelor's++17 points21.8% → 38.4%

Declined1

Rent / income+18 points32.7% → 51.0%

All 11 measures

Change of every measure of Lake California, California between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	39.6 min2015-2019	28.4 min2020-2024	−11.2 min	Within the margin of error	99%
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.8%2015-2019	38.4%2020-2024	+17 points	Improved	98%
Broadband subscriptions	90.5%2015-2019	94.8%2020-2024	+4.3 points	Within the margin of error	27%
Effective property tax rate	0.79%2015-2019	0.69%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Within the margin of error	36%
High school diploma or higher	90.6%2015-2019	95.9%2020-2024	+5.2 points	Within the margin of error	83%
Home price to income ratio	3.1×2015-2019	3.8×2020-2024	+0.8×	Within the margin of error	32%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.3452015-2019	0.3692020-2024	+0.024	Within the margin of error	31%
Median household income	$67,0632015-2019	$92,0512020-2024	+37%	Within the margin of error	69%
Public transit commuters	0.0%2015-2019	0.0%2020-2024	0 points	Within the margin of error	60%
Rent as share of income	32.7%2015-2019	51.0%2020-2024	+18 points	Declined	3%
Rent-burdened households	64.7%2015-2019	79.5%2020-2024	+15 points	Within the margin of error	15%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Lake California, California five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Lake California, California in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Lake California, California itself moved +3.1 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

3,808 residents (±558)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Under 10 men (−6.3 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

3,808 residents (±558)

Lake California, California
California share

White69%2,646
Black0.0%0
Hispanic or Latino7.1%†271

Education

2,726 residents (±409)

Lake California, California
California share

No high school diploma4.1%†113
High school or GED26%†707
Some college21%

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

1,420 households (±183)

Lake California, California
California share

Under $25k8.5%†121
$25k–50k21%†293
$50k–75k11%†156
$75k–100k14%†195
$100k–150k34%†486
$150k–200k3.7%†52
$200k or more8.2%†117

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $100k–150k (+18.2 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

1,420 households (±183)

Lake California, California
California share

Own81%1,157
Rent19%†263

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

263 households (±116)

Lake California, California
California share

Under $7500.0%0
$750–1,0000.0%0
$1,000–1,50043%†112

Home values

1,157 homes (±168)

Lake California, California
California share

Under $150k4.1%†47
$150k–250k5.8%†67
$250k–400k66%764

Age of homes

1,449 homes (±187)

Lake California, California
California share

2010 or later9.9%†144
2000–200936%†521
1980–199942%613

Size of homes

1,449 homes (±187)

Lake California, California
California share

Studio0.7%†10
1 bedroom0.0%0
2 bedrooms16%†230

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

1,817 workers (±381)

Lake California, California
California share

Drive alone74%1,342
Carpool17%†317
Public transit0.0%0
Walk0.0%0
Bike0.0%0
Work from home7.5%†137
Other1.2%†21

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Drive alone (−17.9 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

1,680 workers (±368)

Lake California, California
California share

Under 15 min10%†171
15–29 min30%†506
30–44 min54%†

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Red Bluff, CA

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Tehama County, the county holding most of Lake California's residents.

Tehama County has 999 employer establishments, 154 for every 10,000 residents (0.62× the US rate of 248; 0.58× California's), with 13,620 paid employees at an average annual pay of $57,987. The Census Bureau also counts 3,564 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 999; 3,564 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 154; US 248 · California 263
Paid employees: 13,620
Average annual pay: $57,987; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Tehama County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Restaurants and other eating places	94	14.5	0.79×Fewer than typical	1,061	$23,612	21
Specialty trade contractors	83	12.8	0.82×About typical	384	$107,688	243
Ambulatory health care services	58	8.9	0.43×Fewer than typical	739	$57,877	97
Full-service restaurants	47	7.2	0.94×About typical	343	$25,965	6
Truck transportation	41	6.3	1.25×About typical	455	$77,097	129
Construction of buildings	40	6.1	0.81×About typical	102	$53,578	142
Lessors of real estate	38	5.8	0.47×Fewer than typical	77	$48,506	212
Gasoline stations	32	4.9	1.52×More than typical	363	$36,512	—
Limited-service restaurants	30	4.6	0.58×Fewer than typical	567	$21,818	10
Automotive repair and maintenance	29	4.5	0.89×About typical	243	$50,897	55
Building equipment contractors	27	4.2	0.69×Fewer than typical	134	$57,269	37
Child day care services	23	3.5	1.45×More than typical	132	$27,106	124

Rank places for an industry Open Tehama County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 65,048 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $7,239 of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Lake California, California: $1.90 per resident (US $2,007).

Obligations: $7,239
Per resident: $1.90; US $2,007
Sole-source: 46%; US 30%
Single offer: 0.0%; US 8.7%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Bureau of Reclamation$3,89254%
Indian Health Service$3,34746%

Top recipients

AMERICAN ANCHORED INDUSTRIES LLC$3,89254%
ALLEN GILL CONSTRUCTION INC$3,34746%

Spending by fiscal year

20.5FY2017
2.2KFY2018
1.6KFY2019
-941.3FY2020
253.2FY2021
-73.8FY2022
7.2KFY2026

What was bought

Other equipment & supplies

Top industries (NAICS)

Other electrical equipment and component manufacturing · 3359$3,89254%
Utility system construction · 2371$3,34746%

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 9, 2026, loaded Oct 9, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Lake California, California, so they do not add up across cities.

Lake California, California's figures are part of those of Tehama County, CA ($15.5M in FY2026), never added to them: 0.0% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Lake California is mostly in Tehama County.

See federal money in Tehama County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Lake California, California is represented in the 119th Congress by these members.

House

James GallagherR-CA-1 · 100% of residentsWith party 93%Missed 6.1%

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Tehama County20100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Red Bluff, CA13

Other cities and towns in Tehama County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

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