California’s state capital and center of statewide legislative and executive functions.
California
Geography levelState
Parent geographyUnited States
CapitalSacramento
Largest cityLos Angeles
Administrative subdivisions58 counties
State capitalSacramento
Largest cityLos Angeles
Counties58 count
Latest population39.29M
Tracked indicators6
Observation period1937–2025
California’s largest city and a major economic, financial and cultural center of Southern California.
A core Bay Area city with major roles in finance, technology, culture, tourism and regional transportation.
A major Southern California coastal city with extensive coastline, parks, open space and urban services.
A defining Sierra Nevada national park known for valleys, waterfalls, meadows, giant sequoias and wilderness.
Los Angeles’ major international airport and a key passenger gateway for Southern California.
A major public seaport in San Pedro Bay linking Southern California with international trade.
A major Bay Area public research university with broad research and education activity.
Total primary energy production1.71M2024
Total energy consumption6.86M2024
Population39.29M2024
Median household income$99,1222024
Median home value$734,7002024
Unemployment rate6.61%2024
Year-by-year change
| Year | Observed changes & events |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Golden Gate Bridge opened — The suspension bridge linking San Francisco and Marin County opened to vehicle traffic and became a defining Bay Area gateway. |
| 1960 | State Water Project financing approved — Statewide voter approval created the financing basis for large-scale water-storage and conveyance infrastructure. |
| 1972 | BART began revenue service — A new regional rapid-transit system began passenger service in the Bay Area, opening a new phase of metropolitan commuting. |
| 2001 | Total primary energy production −109.8K · Total energy consumption +105.5K |
| 2002 | Total primary energy production +10.6K · Total energy consumption −15K |
| 2003 | Total primary energy production −55.4K · Total energy consumption −140.9K |
| 2004 | Total primary energy production −123.8K · Total energy consumption +381.5K |
| 2005 | Total primary energy production +10.9K · Total energy consumption −93.7K |
| 2006 | Total primary energy production −60.9K · Total energy consumption +43.8K |
| 2007 | Total primary energy production −53K · Total energy consumption +137.6K |
| 2008 | Total primary energy production −77.1K · Total energy consumption −174.7K |
| 2009 | Total primary energy production −51.6K · Total energy consumption −319K |
| 2010 | Total primary energy production +4.1K · Total energy consumption −158.5K |
| 2011 | Total primary energy production +34.1K · Total energy consumption −83.2K |
| 2012 | Total primary energy production −230.2K · Total energy consumption −113.7K · Population +355.9K · Median household income −$232 · Median home value −$37.7K · Unemployment rate +0.91pp |
| 2013 | Total primary energy production +35.1K · Total energy consumption +68.6K · Population +334.1K · Median household income −$306 · Median home value −$17.5K · Unemployment rate +0.5pp · New East Span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened — The new eastern span of the Bay Bridge opened, replacing a critical road connection between Oakland and Yerba Buena Island. |
| 2014 | Total primary energy production +15.9K · Total energy consumption −88.4K · Population +407.7K · Median household income +$395 · Median home value +$5K · Unemployment rate −0.55pp |
| 2015 | Total primary energy production −38.3K · Total energy consumption +83.8K · Population +354.5K · Median household income +$329 · Median home value +$14.1K · Unemployment rate −1.1pp · California High-Speed Rail held its official groundbreaking — An official groundbreaking in Fresno marked the start of the construction phase for California High-Speed Rail. |
| 2016 | Total primary energy production −48K · Total energy consumption −571 · Population +232.7K · Median household income +$2K · Median home value +$23.8K · Unemployment rate −1.14pp |
| 2017 | Total primary energy production +1.9K · Total energy consumption +9.1K · Population +328.6K · Median household income +$3.4K · Median home value +$34.1K · Unemployment rate −1.09pp · First phase of Oroville spillway reconstruction completed — The first major reconstruction phase was completed after damage to the main Oroville spillway. |
| 2018 | Total primary energy production −117.5K · Total energy consumption +147.7K · Population +165.9K · Median household income +$4.1K · Median home value +$32.5K · Unemployment rate −0.92pp |
| 2019 | Total primary energy production −2.6K · Total energy consumption −62.3K · Population +134.7K · Median household income +$4K · Median home value +$29.1K · Unemployment rate −0.67pp |
| 2020 | Total primary energy production −158.9K · Total energy consumption −798.4K · Population +62.5K · Median household income +$3.4K · Median home value +$33.5K · Unemployment rate +0.12pp · Major modern wildfire season — Large wildfires across California placed severe pressure on forests, communities, air quality, power systems and evacuation networks. |
| 2021 | Total primary energy production −44K · Total energy consumption +345.2K · Population +109.3K · Median household income +$5.4K · Median home value +$34.7K · Unemployment rate +0.34pp |
| 2022 | Total primary energy production −55.9K · Total energy consumption +78.7K · Population −99.2K · Median household income +$7.8K · Median home value +$86.1K · Unemployment rate −0.12pp |
| 2023 | Total primary energy production +90.7K · Total energy consumption −42.7K · Population −113.3K · Median household income +$4.4K · Median home value +$36.1K · Unemployment rate +0.01pp |
| 2024 | Total primary energy production +36.5K · Total energy consumption +40.6K · Population +44.6K · Median household income +$2.8K · Median home value +$39.3K · Unemployment rate +0.19pp |
| 2025 | Major Los Angeles County wildfires — Multiple major wildfires in Los Angeles County caused severe damage to communities and local infrastructure. |
Analysis charts
EnergyTotal primary energy productionBillion Btu · 2000–2024
1.71M2024
Start 2.7MLong-run change -36.6%Low 2022High 2000
EnergyTotal energy consumptionBillion Btu · 2000–2024
6.86M2024
Start 7.5MLong-run change -8.7%Low 2020High 2007
PopulationPopulationpersons · 2011–2024
39.29M2024
Start 36.97MLong-run change +6.3%Low 2011High 2021
IncomeMedian household incomeUS dollars · 2011–2024
$99,1222024
Start $61,632Long-run change +60.8%Low 2013High 2024
HousingMedian home valueUS dollars · 2011–2024
$734,7002024
Start $421,600Long-run change +74.3%Low 2013High 2024
EmploymentUnemployment ratepercent · 2011–2024
6.61%2024
Start 10.12%Long-run change -34.7%Low 2019High 2013
Full report
California’s 2011–2024 pattern is defined by a long population expansion that turns after 2021, while income and home value rise strongly after early lows. Unemployment follows a separate path, reaching an early high in 2013 and then declining over the longer run.
Population growth initially ran against weaker income and housing
Population rises from 36,969,200 in 2011 to 37,659,181 in 2013. Median household income slips from $61,632 to $61,094, while median home value falls from $421,600 to $366,400.
Unemployment reaches the high point of the supplied series in 2013, making the opening phase a period of divergence rather than uniform expansion.
After 2013, income and housing recover while unemployment moves lower
Median household income reaches $63,783 in 2016, $75,235 in 2019 and $84,097 in 2021. Home value also turns upward after 2013, reaching $505,000 in 2019 and $573,200 in 2021.
Population continues rising to 39,455,353 in 2021. This is the phase where stronger income and housing readings increasingly overlap with lower unemployment and continued population growth.
The latest period brings a population reversal but continued income and housing gains
Population falls to 39,356,104 in 2022 and 39,242,785 in 2023 before edging up to 39,287,377 in 2024. Median household income reaches $99,122 and median home value $734,700.
The verified 2011–2024 changes are 2,318,177 people, $37,490 in household income and $313,100 in home value. Unemployment is higher in 2024 than in 2023 but below 2011.
One statewide series spans very different California regions
Sacramento anchors state government, while Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego represent distinct metropolitan systems. LAX and the Port of Los Angeles connect Southern California to global passenger and freight networks.
Yosemite National Park and UC Berkeley add natural and research anchors, illustrating why statewide averages combine very different local housing, labor and settlement conditions.
Infrastructure and wildfire milestones add context without proving causation
The new East Span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 2013, California High-Speed Rail held its official Fresno groundbreaking in 2015, and the first major phase of Oroville spillway reconstruction was completed in 2017.
CAL FIRE identifies 2020 as California’s largest modern wildfire season. These milestones distinguish the regional timeline, but timing alone does not prove they caused the statistical changes.
FAQ
Did California’s population rise continuously?
No. It rises through 2021 to 39,455,353, falls in 2022 and 2023, and edges back to 39,287,377 in 2024.
When did median home value turn upward?
The supplied series reaches its low at $366,400 in 2013. Every later annual observation through 2024 is higher than the previous one.
Do infrastructure projects or wildfires explain the data changes?
No. They provide regional context, but the evidence does not establish causal relationships with the four statistical series.
California combines a long population expansion that turns after 2021 with sustained gains in income and housing after early lows. Unemployment also falls substantially from its 2013 high. The 2024 population rebound is small, leaving the four measures on distinct trajectories.