CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

36.06° N · 119.15° W · GEOID 0658191

Poplar-Cotton Center

Tulare County, California · part of the Visalia, CA metro

Limited data population under 5,000

CaliforniaPoplar-Cotton Center, CAPoplar-Cotton CenterPoplar-Cotton Center

The short answer

Poplar-Cotton Center is home to 2,171 people. Median household income is $51,076 a year and median rent is $1,044 a month, 24.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $219,500, about 4.3x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,044
24% below the median place
Median household income
$51,076
36% below the median place
Median home value
$219,500
31% below the median place
Unemployment
9.3%
90% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Poplar-Cotton Center

  • Only 0% of workers mostly work from home, fewer than in 99% of the 2,104 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 615 California places.
  • Only 23% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 97% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 630 California places.
  • 43% of residents were born outside the US, more than in 98% of places its size.
  • Households average 3.69 people, larger than in 98% of places its size.
  • After the median rent, and with prices for everything else adjusted to the US average, the median household has about $37,400 a year left, less than in 92% of places its size.
01

Moving to Poplar-Cotton Center

Tulare County loses about 2.6 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in10,328
Moved out11,324
Net−996

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within California, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within CaliforniaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$54K
Leavers$54K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Tulare County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
0.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Tulare County report $53,800 a year in income on average; those leaving, $54,300.
Income you would need
$41,800 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,044 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,868 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $219,500.
Getting to work
25 minutes each way on average; 0.0% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
DeFuniak Springs, FL matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
0.0%
below the median place (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving in7
$53,843
24% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year10.0%below (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-2.6333% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$53,84324% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$54,33523% below
02

What it costs to live here

Renters paying 30%+ is 23.4%, 54% below the median place.

Poplar-Cotton Center24.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$41,760
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
24.5%
20% above the median place
Home price to income
4.3x
13% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
25%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$37,300
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Poplar-Cotton Center, $1,044 a month, and local prices for everything else (103.1 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Poplar-Cotton Center, but easier on the budget

Close matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income.

PlaceRent to incomeMore left a year
Rensselaer, IN18.6% vs 24.5%$10,800Compare
Barnesville, GA17.7% vs 24.5%n/aCompare
Corning, CA20.4% vs 24.5%n/aCompare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Poplar-Cotton Center.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Poplar-Cotton Center? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
23.4%
54% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,200
63% below the median place
Property tax rate1
0.6%
40% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,04424% below
Rent to income124.5%20% above
Property tax rate10.6%40% below
Home price to income14.3x13% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure99.81% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,45010% below
HUD area median income4County figure$76,40029% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,20063% below
Median home value1$219,50031% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure3.8%19% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure53.3%3% above
Homeownership149.7%25% below
Renters paying 30%+123.4%54% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1County figure$1,8680% below
Vacant homes1County figure7.1%1% above
Median year built119760% below
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 0.0%, below the median place (median 12.4%).

Works from home1
0.0%
below the median place (median 12.4%)
Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Income per person1
$17,856
55% below the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate26.1% 2.4×
Median household income$51,076 −36%
Mean commute25 min −1%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$51,07636% below
Income per person1$17,85655% below
Unemployment1County figure9.3%90% above
Average annual pay6County figure$54,79217% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.3%11% below
Jobs6County figure174,61016% above
Poverty rate126.1%143% above
Mean commute125 min1% below
Works from home10.0%below (median 12.4%)
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 47.5%, 49% below the median place.

High school or higher1
47.5%
49% below the median place
Homes with broadband1
71.4%
23% below the median place
Household size1
3.7
48% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad43.4% 4.9×
Median age30.3 −22%
No health insurance12.0% +88%
All 8 people measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population12,1716646th largest
Median age130.322% below
Bachelor's or higher1County figure16.6%48% below
High school or higher147.5%49% below
Household size13.748% above
Born abroad143.4%391% above
No health insurance112.0%87% above
Homes with broadband171.4%23% below
05

Life in Poplar-Cotton Center

36 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.2 −9%
Playgrounds per 10k0.0 −100%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.0 −100%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi1.3 6.0×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars14.7 −29%
Shops23.0 −24%
Arts, recreation and fitness1.3 −68%
Doctors' offices and clinics15.4 −24%
Child care centers1.3 −43%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8
1.3
68% below the median place
Child care centers per 10k8
1.3
43% below the median place
Students per teacher11
21.5
40% above the median place
All 16 schools and local life measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools11County figure195above (median 9)
Public school students11County figure101,494above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher11County figure21.540% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure14.729% below
Shops per 10k8County figure23.024% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure1.368% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure15.424% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.343% below
Parks per 10k99.29% below
Playgrounds per 10k90.0below (median 9.4)
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.0below (median 11.2)
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi91.3above (median 0.2)
National Register listings10County figure36177% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 64, 49% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Poplar-Cotton Center. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index14
64
49% above the median place
Good air days14
24.1%
65% below the median place
Heat wave risk13
99.2
10% above the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasurePoplar-Cotton CenterAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high12County figure87°F0% above
January average low12County figure31°F22% above
Average temperature12County figure55°F0% above
Annual precipitation12County figure21.1 in52% below
Natural hazard risk13County figure97.05% above
Tornado risk13County figure30.363% below
Wildfire risk13County figure98.060% above
Heat wave risk13County figure99.210% above
Median air quality index14County figure6449% above
Good air days14County figure24.1%65% below
08

Poplar-Cotton Center in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 24% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 25% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,044/mo (2024)$1,340/mo$1,100 to $1,640/mo+4.3%
Median household income$51,076 (2024)$67,000$56,500 to $79,000+4.6%
Median home value$219,500 (2024)$329,000$239,000 to $454,000+7.0%

The median home would be worth 4.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 4.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Poplar-Cotton Center

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
DeFuniak Springs, FL$1,024$54,512Compare
Monroe, GA$1,105$44,656Compare
Bloomfield, NM$984$48,472Compare
Dayton, TX$1,045$59,691Compare
Dayton, TXBloomfield, NMMonroe, GADeFuniak Springs, FLPoplar-Cotton Center, CADeFuniak SpringsMonroeBloomfieldDaytonDeFuniak SpringsMonroeBloomfieldDayton

Common questions

Is Poplar-Cotton Center a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Only 0% of workers mostly work from home, fewer than in 99% of the 2,104 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 615 California places. Only 23% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 97% of places its size. It is the 3rd-lowest of 630 California places. On cost, space and class size it scores 21 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Poplar-Cotton Center expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 24.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $219,500.

What salary do you need to live in Poplar-Cotton Center?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $41,760 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Poplar-Cotton Center?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are DeFuniak Springs, FL, Monroe, GA, Bloomfield, NM and Dayton, TX.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  11. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  12. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  13. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  14. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Poplar-Cotton Center with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Poplar-Cotton Center itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/poplar-cotton-center-california

Citytistics. “Poplar-Cotton Center, California.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/poplar-cotton-center-california/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.