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CACalifornia rankings

Towns losing population in California

Ranked by population loss between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. 173 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Paradise −81.8% 2010 census 26,218 2 South Oroville −43.7% 2010 census 5,742 3 Oasis −35.2% 2010 census 6,890
#TownChange 2010–20202010 census2020 census
1 Paradise7,392 people −81.8% 26,218 4,764
2 South Oroville2,846 people −43.7% 5,742 3,235
3 Oasis4,051 people −35.2% 6,890 4,468
4 Ione Ione9,156 people −35.1% 7,918 5,141
5 Isla Vista Isla Vista13,920 people −32.9% 23,096 15,500
6 Willowbrook21,681 people −32.5% 35,983 24,295
7 Map of Magalia Magalia7,389 people −31.1% 11,310 7,795
8 Map of Amesti Amesti2,818 people −24.2% 3,478 2,637
9 Alum Rock10,440 people −22.5% 15,536 12,042
10 Map of East Porterville East Porterville5,066 people −18.0% 6,767 5,549
11 Map of East Foothills East Foothills7,139 people −17.7% 8,269 6,803
12 Map of Weedpatch Weedpatch2,685 people −17.0% 2,658 2,206
13 Malibu Malibu10,421 people −15.7% 12,645 10,654
14 Calipatria Calipatria6,548 people −15.4% 7,705 6,515
15 Map of Angwin Angwin2,931 people −13.7% 3,051 2,633
16 Map of Avocado Heights Avocado Heights12,593 people −13.6% 15,411 13,317
17 Greenfield3,939 people −13.6% 3,991 3,447
18 Carmel-by-the-Sea3,162 people −13.5% 3,722 3,220
19 Mammoth Lakes7,214 people −12.7% 8,234 7,191
20 Crescent City Crescent City6,046 people −12.7% 7,643 6,673
21 Joshua Tree Joshua Tree6,234 people −12.5% 7,414 6,489
22 Blythe17,396 people −12.0% 20,817 18,317
23 Avenal Avenal13,608 people −11.7% 15,505 13,696
24 Lemoore Station6,175 people −11.7% 7,438 6,568
25 Map of Lennox Lennox19,449 people −10.7% 22,753 20,323
26 Map of Cutler Cutler4,361 people −10.4% 5,000 4,480
27 Map of Borrego Springs Borrego Springs2,700 people −10.4% 3,429 3,073
28 Tehachapi Tehachapi11,946 people −10.2% 14,414 12,939
29 Earlimart7,214 people −10.1% 8,537 7,679
30 Corcoran Corcoran22,491 people −10.0% 24,813 22,339
31 Map of Planada Planada3,506 people −9.2% 4,584 4,164
32 Map of Fort Irwin Fort Irwin8,419 people −8.5% 8,845 8,096
33 Map of Taft Taft7,125 people −8.4% 9,327 8,546
34 Lucerne Valley5,957 people −8.3% 5,811 5,331
35 Maywood24,317 people −8.2% 27,395 25,138
36 Huron6,519 people −8.1% 6,754 6,206
37 Homestead Valley2,689 people −8.0% 3,032 2,789
38 Map of San Joaquin San Joaquin3,708 people −7.5% 4,001 3,701
39 Map of Channel Islands Beach Channel Islands Beach2,726 people −7.5% 3,103 2,870
40 Map of Copperopolis Copperopolis4,285 people −7.4% 3,671 3,400
41 Map of Boron Boron2,698 people −7.4% 2,253 2,086
42 Avalon3,338 people −7.2% 3,728 3,460
43 Map of Lamont Lamont13,164 people −7.1% 15,120 14,049
44 Map of Del Monte Forest Del Monte Forest3,613 people −6.9% 4,514 4,204
45 Susanville14,177 people −6.8% 17,947 16,728
46 Map of Boyes Hot Springs Boyes Hot Springs7,247 people −6.6% 6,656 6,215
47 St. Helena5,318 people −6.6% 5,814 5,430
48 Map of China Lake Acres China Lake Acres2,594 people −6.3% 1,876 1,757
49 Map of El Verano El Verano3,443 people −6.2% 4,123 3,867
50 Map of East Los Angeles East Los Angeles111,647 people −6.1% 126,496 118,786
51 Map of Bell Gardens Bell Gardens38,229 people −6.1% 42,072 39,501
52 Pajaro Pajaro2,899 people −6.1% 3,070 2,882
53 Map of Kings Beach Kings Beach2,736 people −6.1% 3,796 3,563
54 Cambria Cambria5,978 people −5.9% 6,032 5,678
55 Citrus10,904 people −5.7% 10,866 10,243
56 Huntington Park Huntington Park53,108 people −5.6% 58,114 54,883
57 Map of Garnet Garnet7,382 people −5.6% 7,543 7,118
58 Holtville Holtville5,617 people −5.6% 5,939 5,605
59 Bell Bell32,476 people −5.4% 35,477 33,559
60 Easton2,722 people −5.3% 2,083 1,972
61 Map of Orosi Orosi8,966 people −5.0% 8,770 8,329
62 Del Mar Del Mar3,903 people −5.0% 4,161 3,954
63 Map of Mount Shasta Mount Shasta3,182 people −5.0% 3,394 3,223
64 Burney2,668 people −4.9% 3,154 3,000
65 Rosemead Rosemead50,013 people −4.8% 53,764 51,185
66 San Marino12,216 people −4.8% 13,147 12,513
67 Walnut Park Walnut Park14,958 people −4.7% 15,966 15,214
68 Map of Fairbanks Ranch Fairbanks Ranch2,703 people −4.6% 3,148 3,002
69 Map of North Fair Oaks North Fair Oaks13,100 people −4.5% 14,687 14,027
70 Map of Santa Ana Santa Ana312,534 people −4.4% 324,528 310,227
71 La Puente La Puente37,142 people −4.4% 39,816 38,062
72 Map of Larkfield-Wikiup Larkfield-Wikiup8,765 people −4.4% 8,884 8,492
73 Angels3,716 people −4.4% 3,836 3,667
74 Baldwin Park70,138 people −4.3% 75,390 72,176
75 Map of Cudahy Cudahy22,087 people −4.2% 23,805 22,811
76 Mecca7,184 people −4.2% 8,577 8,219
77 National City58,893 people −4.1% 58,582 56,173
78 Beverly Hills31,624 people −4.1% 34,109 32,701
79 Indian Wells Indian Wells4,871 people −4.1% 4,958 4,757
80 Map of Fort Bragg Fort Bragg7,032 people −4.0% 7,273 6,983
81 Alturas Alturas2,681 people −4.0% 2,827 2,715
82 South Monrovia Island6,830 people −3.9% 6,777 6,515
83 Desert Palms6,579 people −3.9% 6,957 6,686
84 Frazier Park2,681 people −3.7% 2,691 2,592
85 Lynwood64,578 people −3.6% 69,772 67,265
86 Montecito9,031 people −3.6% 8,965 8,638
87 El Monte El Monte106,109 people −3.5% 113,475 109,450
88 Grover Beach12,604 people −3.5% 13,156 12,701
89 Commerce11,993 people −3.5% 12,823 12,378
90 Weed Weed2,737 people −3.5% 2,967 2,862
91 Map of South San Jose Hills South San Jose Hills16,911 people −3.4% 20,551 19,855
92 Map of Mira Monte Mira Monte6,888 people −3.4% 6,854 6,618
93 Soledad26,365 people −3.2% 25,738 24,925
94 Home Gardens10,506 people −3.2% 11,570 11,203
95 Map of South Taft South Taft2,939 people −3.2% 2,169 2,100
96 Map of Ross Ross2,606 people −3.2% 2,415 2,338
97 Phelan18,496 people −3.1% 14,304 13,859
98 Delano51,679 people −3.0% 53,041 51,428
99 Map of Lawndale Lawndale30,781 people −2.9% 32,769 31,807
100 Westlake Village Westlake Village7,743 people −2.9% 8,270 8,029
101 Map of Oroville East Oroville East7,504 people −2.9% 8,280 8,038
102 Map of Norco Norco25,054 people −2.8% 27,063 26,316
103 Map of Val Verde Val Verde3,291 people −2.8% 2,468 2,399
104 South El Monte19,287 people −2.7% 20,116 19,567
105 Norwalk99,789 people −2.6% 105,549 102,773
106 Montara Montara2,917 people −2.6% 2,909 2,833
107 Walnut27,611 people −2.5% 29,172 28,430
108 Eureka26,010 people −2.5% 27,191 26,512
109 Map of Florence-Graham Florence-Graham60,690 people −2.2% 63,387 61,983
110 Acton Acton7,880 people −2.2% 7,596 7,431
111 El Rio El Rio6,368 people −2.2% 7,198 7,037
112 Seaside31,814 people −2.0% 33,025 32,366
113 East Pasadena5,479 people −2.0% 6,144 6,021
114 Map of Mayflower Village Mayflower Village4,950 people −2.0% 5,515 5,402
115 South San Gabriel7,923 people −1.9% 8,070 7,920
116 Hayfork2,537 people −1.9% 2,368 2,324
117 South Gate91,483 people −1.8% 94,396 92,726
118 Map of Farmersville Farmersville10,397 people −1.8% 10,588 10,397
119 Inglewood104,569 people −1.7% 109,673 107,762
120 Windsor26,081 people −1.7% 26,801 26,344
121 Map of Valinda Valinda20,962 people −1.7% 22,822 22,437
122 Map of Rowland Heights Rowland Heights45,911 people −1.6% 48,993 48,231
123 Map of Bishop Bishop3,778 people −1.5% 3,879 3,819
124 Pico Rivera60,272 people −1.4% 62,942 62,088
125 Oceano7,128 people −1.4% 7,286 7,183
126 Meadowbrook2,627 people −1.4% 3,185 3,142
127 Map of South Whittier South Whittier55,650 people −1.3% 57,156 56,415
128 Rancho Mirage Rancho Mirage17,563 people −1.3% 17,218 16,999
129 Greenacres4,906 people −1.3% 5,566 5,496
130 Bystrom4,143 people −1.3% 4,008 3,957
131 Map of La Mirada La Mirada47,180 people −1.1% 48,527 48,008
132 Morongo Valley Morongo Valley4,209 people −1.1% 3,552 3,514
133 Map of Auburn Lake Trails Auburn Lake Trails3,284 people −1.1% 3,426 3,388
134 Coto de Caza Coto de Caza15,190 people −1.0% 14,866 14,710
135 Rio del Mar9,201 people −1.0% 9,216 9,128
136 Elverta4,769 people −1.0% 5,492 5,435
137 East Quincy2,723 people −1.0% 2,489 2,463
138 Kennedy2,576 people −1.0% 3,254 3,223
139 Map of Delhi Delhi11,009 people −0.9% 10,755 10,656
140 Map of Gold River Gold River7,924 people −0.9% 7,912 7,844
141 Forestville Forestville3,717 people −0.9% 3,293 3,264
142 Map of Tipton Tipton2,851 people −0.9% 2,543 2,519
143 Diamond Bar53,355 people −0.8% 55,544 55,072
144 Map of West Whittier-Los Nietos West Whittier-Los Nietos25,615 people −0.8% 25,540 25,325
145 Artesia15,889 people −0.8% 16,522 16,395
146 El Cerrito5,325 people −0.8% 5,100 5,058
147 Compton92,698 people −0.7% 96,455 95,740
148 Map of Paramount Paramount52,050 people −0.7% 54,098 53,733
149 Dana Point32,790 people −0.7% 33,351 33,107
150 Imperial Beach Imperial Beach25,764 people −0.7% 26,324 26,137
151 Map of Live Oak Live Oak16,911 people −0.7% 17,158 17,038
152 Hawaiian Gardens13,691 people −0.7% 14,254 14,149
153 Palos Verdes Estates12,925 people −0.7% 13,438 13,347
154 Santa Rosa Valley2,780 people −0.7% 3,334 3,312
155 Stanton39,402 people −0.6% 38,186 37,962
156 Map of Hilmar-Irwin Hilmar-Irwin6,132 people −0.6% 5,197 5,164
157 Map of Ivanhoe Ivanhoe4,629 people −0.6% 4,495 4,468
158 Map of San Gabriel San Gabriel38,392 people −0.4% 39,718 39,568
159 Castaic17,999 people −0.4% 19,015 18,937
160 Alhambra81,022 people −0.3% 83,089 82,868
161 Map of Banning Banning31,093 people −0.3% 29,603 29,505
162 Map of South Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe21,269 people −0.3% 21,403 21,330
163 Map of Alondra Park Alondra Park8,373 people −0.3% 8,592 8,569
164 Map of San Martin San Martin6,954 people −0.3% 7,027 7,008
165 Bret Harte4,757 people −0.3% 5,152 5,135
166 Agoura Hills Agoura Hills19,721 people −0.2% 20,330 20,299
167 Map of Lake Arrowhead Lake Arrowhead10,639 people −0.2% 12,424 12,401
168 Piñon Hills7,065 people −0.2% 7,272 7,258
169 East Rancho Dominguez14,603 people −0.1% 15,135 15,114
170 Map of Exeter Exeter10,258 people −0.1% 10,334 10,321
171 Phoenix Lake4,794 people −0.1% 4,269 4,264
172 Map of Mission Hills Mission Hills3,859 people −0.1% 3,576 3,571
173 Santa Venetia3,725 people −0.1% 4,292 4,289

How this ranking works

We rank every town by population loss between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. Only towns that shrank are listed. The town with the lowest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for California as a whole is +6.1%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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