HomeCaliforniaLake County
Lake County, California: commercial real estate data.
Lake County, California had an estimated 67,764 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 68,164, across 1,256 square miles. County output reached $2.69 bn in 2024, 1,089 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 47 7(a) approvals worth $43.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lake County
How many people live in Lake County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202468,152
- Households26,940
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$60,621
- Median age44.1
- Median gross rent$1,368 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$324,300
- Home value to household income5.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income27.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher17.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over48,884
- Population under 1814,934
- Share under 1821.9 percent
- Population 65 and over16,290
- Share 65 and over23.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6436,928
- Civilian labor force28,259
- Unemployment rate11.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.1 percent
- Rank by population among California counties40th of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included804th of 3,222
Lake County is the 40th largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 5.3 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.9 percent against 21.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lake County
Is Lake County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202467,764
- Census 2020 base population68,164
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.59 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-170
- Births, 2024680
- Deaths, 20241,027
- Natural change, 2024-347
- Net domestic migration, 202436
- Net international migration, 2024144
- Total net migration, 2024180
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024463
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2050th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.59 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lake County
Where are people moving to Lake County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,459
- People arriving, from those returns2,612
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,473
- Net household movement-14
- Adjusted gross income arriving$88.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-7.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$60,361
- Average income of a leaving household$65,088
- Largest single originSonoma County (299 households)
- Largest single destinationSonoma County (226 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma County | 299 | 549 | $18.6 m |
| Mendocino County | 163 | 346 | $7.5 m |
| Sacramento County | 78 | 130 | $4.0 m |
| Napa County | 76 | 155 | $5.9 m |
| Contra Costa County | 61 | 103 | $4.8 m |
| Solano County | 50 | 83 | $3.0 m |
| Alameda County | 48 | 71 | $4.3 m |
| Santa Clara County | 43 | 69 | $4.0 m |
Households arriving report $4,727 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Sonoma County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lake County
What is the Lake County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.69 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.5 percent
- GDP change over five years33.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the California areas BEA publishes43rd of 58
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1058th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,543
Output grew 8.5 percent in the latest year and 33.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lake County
Employment by industry in Lake County
- Covered employment, annual average17,522
- Establishments reporting3,657
- Average annual pay$53,849
- Average weekly wage$1,036
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,202
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,095
- Retail trade, employment2,218
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,239
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,105
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,477
- Construction, employment874
- Construction, average annual pay$64,906
- Transportation and warehousing, employment418
- Utilities, employment392
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 5,202 | 2,513 | $48,095 |
| Retail trade | 2,218 | 153 | $38,239 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,105 | 131 | $26,477 |
| Construction | 874 | 204 | $64,906 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 418 | 29 | $91,406 |
| Utilities | 392 | 13 | $164,955 |
| Other services, except public administration | 351 | 89 | $38,677 |
| Manufacturing | 344 | 43 | $57,051 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,202 jobs, 29.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lake County
How many businesses are in Lake County?
- Establishments, all industries1,089
- Employment at those establishments10,063
- Annual payroll$517.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lake County
Building permits in Lake County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024114
- Declared construction value permitted$23.6 m
- Single family units authorized72
- Multifamily units authorized42
- Multifamily share of units36.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$206,796
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.2
Single-family homes are 63.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lake County
SBA loans in Lake County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded47
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$43.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$922,240
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- 10th percentile approval$43,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,877,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)327
- Jobs per approval7.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals26
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer40.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms19
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter27
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals8.5 percent
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (9)
- 504 approvals recorded15
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.8 m
- Average 504 approval$453,800
- Median 504 approval$278,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval4.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.3
- Most active CDCBay Area Employment Development Company (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$50.2 m
The average approval of $922,240 sits well above the median of $300,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 40.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lake County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lake County
Do SBA loans in Lake County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure36
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 6 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lake County
SBA lending by place in Lake County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Lakeport, approvals14
- Kelseyville, approvals13
- Middletown, approvals4
- Nice, approvals4
- Clearlake, approvals3
- Lower Lake, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeport | 14 | $12,622,700 |
| Kelseyville | 13 | $3,318,000 |
| Middletown | 4 | $7,315,000 |
| Nice | 4 | $2,867,000 |
| Clearlake | 3 | $10,466,700 |
| Lower Lake | 3 | $3,882,000 |
| Hidden Valley Lake | 3 | $683,400 |
| Cobb | 2 | $1,610,500 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $580,000 |
Lakeport accounts for 14 approvals against 13 in Kelseyville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lake County
How large is Lake County?
- Land area1,256 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties38th of 58
- Width, east to west40.4 mi
- Height, north to south63.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land54
- Establishments per square mile0.87
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lake County
Flood risk in Lake County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lake County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 060090
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Lake County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lake County (community 060090), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Lake County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lake County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lake County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202468,152
- Households26,940
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$60,621
- Median age44.1
Common questions
Lake County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lake County, California?
The Census Bureau estimates 67,764 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 68,152, in 26,940 households, ranking 40th of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lake County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.59 percent since the 2020 census base of 68,164, to 67,764 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 680 births against 1,027 deaths, with net migration of 180. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lake County?
$60,621. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $324,300, which is 5.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,368 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lake County?
1,089 establishments, employing 10,063 people with an annual payroll of $517.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lake County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 5,202 jobs, 29.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 17,522 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,849, or $1,036 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lake County?
47 7(a) approvals totaling $43.3 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 15 504 approvals worth $6.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lake County?
114 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $23.6 m. Multifamily was 36.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lake County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lake County come from?
The largest single origin is Sonoma County, with 299 households. Arriving households report an average income of $60,361 against $65,088 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lake County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lake County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lake County
Cities and places in Lake.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lake County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearlake | city | 16,659 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Hidden Valley Lake | CDP | 5,872 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeport | city | 5,113 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Clearlake Riviera | CDP | 4,122 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kelseyville | CDP | 4,011 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Lucerne | CDP | 3,435 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Lakeport | CDP | 2,995 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nice | CDP | 2,569 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Clearlake Oaks | CDP | 2,198 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Middletown | CDP | 1,572 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Upper Lake | CDP | 1,374 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Valley | CDP | 853 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cobb | CDP | 842 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Soda Bay | CDP | 802 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lower Lake | CDP | 635 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 47 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lake County, the largest being Santa Rosa (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby