Desert Center, CA Demographics

A map of Desert Center's Population by Race

Desert Center, California has an estimated population of 144, a dramatic decrease from the 256 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 44.4% White, 38.9% Hispanic, 9.0% Black, 4.9% Multiracial, 2.8% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Desert Center, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Desert Center has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Desert Center, that probability was 49.5% in 2020 and 64.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Desert Center is ranked the 1420th most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Desert Center was ranked the 1344th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Desert Center's White Population

64 residents of Desert Center, or 44.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Desert Center is considerably higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Desert Center ranks 663rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's White population has declined by an estimated 61.7%. White residents' share of Desert Center's population has decreased from 65.2% to 44.4%.

Desert Center is more White than neighboring Niland (1.7% White), North Shore (0.8% White), Calipatria (6.8% White), and Mesa Verde (19.4% White). Desert Center is less White than neighboring Bombay Beach (60.4% White).

Desert Center's Black Population

13 residents of Desert Center, or 9.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Desert Center is slightly higher than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Desert Center ranks 534th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's Black population has grown by an estimated 225.0%. Black residents' share of Desert Center's population has increased from 1.6% to 9.0%.

Desert Center is more Black than neighboring North Shore (0.6% Black), Calipatria (8.7% Black), and Mesa Verde (5.8% Black). Desert Center is less Black than neighboring Niland (11.1% Black), and Bombay Beach (29.2% Black).

Desert Center's Asian Population

4 residents of Desert Center, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Desert Center is considerably lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Desert Center ranks 1218th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's Asian population has grown by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Desert Center's population has increased from 0.8% to 2.8%.

Desert Center is more Asian than neighboring Niland (0% Asian), Bombay Beach (0% Asian), North Shore (0% Asian), Calipatria (0.2% Asian), and Mesa Verde (0% Asian).

Desert Center's Hispanic Population

56 residents of Desert Center, or 38.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Desert Center is comparable to the share in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Desert Center ranks 698th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 21.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Desert Center's population has increased from 27.7% to 38.9%.

Desert Center is more Hispanic than neighboring Bombay Beach (0% Hispanic). Desert Center is less Hispanic than neighboring Niland (87.2% Hispanic), North Shore (95.3% Hispanic), Calipatria (82.5% Hispanic), and Mesa Verde (72.5% Hispanic).

Desert Center's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Desert Center, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Desert Center is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Desert Center ranks 1522nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's Native American/Other population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Native American/Other residents' share of Desert Center's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Desert Center is less Native American/Other than neighboring North Shore (3.3% Native American/Other), and Calipatria (1.1% Native American/Other).

Desert Center's Multiracial Population

7 residents of Desert Center, or 4.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Desert Center is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Desert Center ranks 801st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Desert Center's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 41.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Desert Center's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.9%.

Desert Center is more Multiracial than neighboring Niland (0% Multiracial), North Shore (0% Multiracial), Calipatria (0.8% Multiracial), and Mesa Verde (2.3% Multiracial). Desert Center is less Multiracial than neighboring Bombay Beach (10.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.