Tulare County, CA

This county of 487,244 residents needs 18,848 more housing units over the next five years. Tulare County is part of the Tulare County Association of Governments.

Housing snapshot

Population
487,244 (2026)
Households
145,305
Median household income
$82,889 (2026)
Typical home value
$358,995
Owner-occupied
54%
Five-year housing need
18,848 units

Comparison to other California counties

Tulare County: $82,889 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$61K >$182K
Tulare County: 1.18 jobs to household ratio
<0.42 >1.95
Tulare County: Permits since 2021 represent 5.4% of housing
<0.5% >8.3%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $358,995, homes in Tulare County, CA cost well below the California average of $713,253. With a median household income of $82,889 in Tulare County, CA, housing costs are a modest stretch for the typical household.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Tulare County, CA has a population of roughly 478,693, growing modestly at 0.6% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

With roughly 145,305 households, Tulare County, CA is growing modestly at 0.6% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Tulare County, CA is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 75% of units. Tulare County, CA is roughly split between owners and renters, at 54% owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Tulare County, CA needs 18,848 new units over the next 5 years.

4,538
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
3.1%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 145,305 in 2026 to 149,843 in 2031.
14,310
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
594
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.8 per 1,000 units.
682
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
3,150
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
9,884
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 10.3%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
18,848
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
3,770
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
12.2%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.4%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?