Placer County Demographics

A map of Placer County's Population by Race

Placer County, California has an estimated population of 419,156, an increase from the 404,739 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 65.5% White, 15.7% Hispanic, 9.1% Asian, 7.2% Multiracial, 1.6% Black, and 1.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Placer County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Placer has become 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 Placer County, that probability was 51.3% in 2020 and 53.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Placer County is ranked the 22nd most populous county in California, out of 58 counties. Placer County was ranked the 22nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Placer County's White Population

274,564 residents of Placer County, or 65.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Placer County is significantly higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Placer County ranks 14th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Placer County's population has decreased from 67.3% to 65.5%.

Placer County is more White than neighboring Yuba County (49% White). Placer County is less White than neighboring Nevada County (80.7% White), El Dorado County (73.1% White), Sierra County (86% White), and Amador County (72.6% White).

Placer County's Black Population

6,553 residents of Placer County, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Placer County is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Placer County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's Black population has grown by an estimated 1.8%. Black residents' share of Placer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Placer County is more Black than neighboring Nevada County (0.3% Black), El Dorado County (0.8% Black), and Sierra County (0.3% Black). Placer County is less Black than neighboring Amador County (1.9% Black), and Yuba County (3.8% Black).

Placer County's Asian Population

38,026 residents of Placer County, or 9.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Placer County is lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Placer County ranks 16th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.3%. Asian residents' share of Placer County's population has increased from 8.6% to 9.1%.

Placer County is more Asian than neighboring Nevada County (1.6% Asian), El Dorado County (5.2% Asian), Sierra County (0% Asian), Amador County (1.3% Asian), and Yuba County (7.8% Asian).

Placer County's Hispanic Population

65,841 residents of Placer County, or 15.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Placer County is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Placer County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 8.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Placer County's population has increased from 15.0% to 15.7%.

Placer County is more Hispanic than neighboring Nevada County (10.7% Hispanic), El Dorado County (14.5% Hispanic), and Sierra County (11% Hispanic). Placer County is less Hispanic than neighboring Amador County (16% Hispanic), and Yuba County (30.8% Hispanic).

Placer County's Native American/Other Population

4,050 residents of Placer County, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Placer County is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Placer County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 20.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Placer County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Placer County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sierra County (2.1% Native American/Other), Amador County (2.3% Native American/Other), and Yuba County (1.6% Native American/Other).

Placer County's Multiracial Population

30,122 residents of Placer County, or 7.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Placer County is slightly higher than in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Placer County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 58 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Placer County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 18.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Placer County's population has increased from 6.3% to 7.2%.

Placer County is more Multiracial than neighboring Nevada County (5.7% Multiracial), El Dorado County (5.5% Multiracial), Sierra County (0.7% Multiracial), Amador County (5.8% Multiracial), and Yuba County (7% 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.