Thermal, CA Demographics

A map of Thermal's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	1,736	2,530	96.4%	94.5%
Black	33	13	1.8%	0.5%
White	22	82	1.2%	3.1%
Asian	5	23	0.3%	0.9%
Multiracial	4	14	0.2%	0.5%
Native American/Other	0	14	0.0%	0.5%

Thermal, California has an estimated population of 1,800, a dramatic decrease from the 2,676 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 96.4% Hispanic, 1.8% Black, 1.2% White, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Multiracial, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Thermal, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Thermal has become less 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 Thermal, that probability was 10.5% in 2020 and 6.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Thermal is ranked the 921st 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). Thermal was ranked the 831st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Thermal's White Population

22 residents of Thermal, or 1.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Thermal is significantly lower than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Thermal ranks 1554th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's White population has declined by an estimated 73.2%. White residents' share of Thermal's population has decreased from 3.1% to 1.2%.

Thermal is more White than neighboring Mecca (0.4% White). Thermal is less White than neighboring Vista Santa Rosa (14.1% White), and Indio (23.3% White).

Thermal's Black Population

33 residents of Thermal, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Thermal is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Thermal ranks 1060th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's Black population has grown by an estimated 153.8%. Black residents' share of Thermal's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.8%.

Thermal is more Black than neighboring Coachella (0.2% Black), Vista Santa Rosa (0% Black), Mecca (0% Black), and Oasis (0.5% Black). Thermal is less Black than neighboring Indio (2.1% Black).

Thermal's Asian Population

5 residents of Thermal, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Thermal is considerably lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Thermal ranks 1185th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's Asian population has declined by an estimated 78.3%. Asian residents' share of Thermal's population has decreased from 0.9% to 0.3%.

Thermal is more Asian than neighboring Coachella (0.2% Asian), Vista Santa Rosa (0.1% Asian), and Mecca (0% Asian). Thermal is less Asian than neighboring Oasis (1.5% Asian), and Indio (2.6% Asian).

Thermal's Hispanic Population

1,736 residents of Thermal, or 96.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Thermal is significantly higher than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Thermal ranks 39th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 31.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Thermal's population has increased from 94.5% to 96.4%.

Thermal is more Hispanic than neighboring Vista Santa Rosa (83.4% Hispanic), Oasis (94.9% Hispanic), and Indio (69.6% Hispanic). Thermal is less Hispanic than neighboring Coachella (97.1% Hispanic), and Mecca (98.4% Hispanic).

Thermal's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Thermal, 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 Thermal is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Thermal ranks 1415th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Thermal's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Thermal is less Native American/Other than neighboring Coachella (0.8% Native American/Other), Vista Santa Rosa (2.2% Native American/Other), Mecca (0.2% Native American/Other), Oasis (1.4% Native American/Other), and Indio (0.7% Native American/Other).

Thermal's Multiracial Population

4 residents of Thermal, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Thermal is slightly lower than in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Thermal ranks 1532nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Thermal's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 71.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Thermal's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Thermal is more Multiracial than neighboring Vista Santa Rosa (0.1% Multiracial). Thermal is less Multiracial than neighboring Coachella (0.5% Multiracial), Mecca (1.1% Multiracial), Oasis (0.5% Multiracial), and Indio (1.6% 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.