At a Glance
Median Income
$42,422
$13,853 per capita
Home Value
$289,300
Zillow: $440,861
Median Rent
$1,360/mo
51.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
1.8%
59.6% high school+
Unemployment
8.8%
42.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
44.6%
18.8% smoking rate
How Bret Harte Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Bret Harte's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Bret Harte a Good Place to Live?
D
1.9 / 5.0 - Poor
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Bret Harte residents earn a median household income of $42,422 , which is 44% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $13,853. The unemployment rate stands at 8.8% (144% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 42.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 17,952 business establishments, including 1,051 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Bret Harte is $289,300 , 3% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $440,861. Median rent is $1,360/month, with 51.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1962.
Education
1.8% of adults in Bret Harte hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(95% below the national average).
59.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Bret Harte has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 12.3 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 53.
Data Overview
People
Population4,807
Median Age23.5 yrs
Density8,740/mi²
Male / Female53% / 47%
Foreign Born28.9%
Veterans0.4%
Economy
D
Median Income$42,422
Per Capita$13,853
Unemployment8.8%
Poverty42.4%
County GDP$32,065M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,227
Housing
C+
Home Value$289,300
Rent$1,360
Ownership36.2%
Zillow$440,861
Housing Units1,159
Rent Burden51.0%
Health
Obesity44.6%
Diabetes17.5%
Smoking18.8%
Heart Disease7.9%
Premature Death9,309/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain12.3 in/yr
AQI53 (Moderate)
Elevation83 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+1.8%
High School+59.6%
Graduate+0.8%
School Score4.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 54% / D 43%
Commute32 min
Broadband89.1%
Internet Speed111 Mbps
EV Stations48
Libraries14
Did You Know?
The median home in Bret Harte was built in 1962.
The nearest airport is Merced Yosemite Regional (35 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.442 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
10.2% of the population has a disability.
28.9% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 111 Mbps.
There are 1,051 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 78 fatal vehicle crashes.