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Living in
Blackhawk.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent and $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above those.
Blackhawk is an unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Blackhawk
Blackhawk is a community of 10,404 people in California. The median household income is $245,208, median rent runs about $3,501 per month, and median home values are around $2,000,001. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Blackhawk at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
22.3%
Broadband Internet
98.7%
of households
Population Growth
+8.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.3% foreign-born, most often from Hong Kong
Who lives in Blackhawk: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Blackhawk, the largest foreign-born group is from Hong Kong (14.3%), and 8.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
26.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
13.0%
of households
Married Couples
75.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.65
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 72% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Blackhawk
In Blackhawk, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
6.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
89.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Blackhawk
Unemployment in Contra Costa County, which includes Blackhawk, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Blackhawk: Contra Costa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Contra Costa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Blackhawk is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Blackhawk Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute36.1 min avg
How Blackhawk residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Blackhawk, most residents drive alone to work (45%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 29 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, which covers Blackhawk, runs 24% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
251.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
928.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes Blackhawk, the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
291 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Blackhawk is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes Blackhawk, is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Blackhawk is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Blackhawk has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
21.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
52
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
20
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
60
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 2.83" |
| Feb | 61°F | 40°F | 2.92" |
| Mar | 65°F | 42°F | 2.25" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 1.08" |
| May | 75°F | 49°F | 0.56" |
| Jun | 83°F | 54°F | 0.14" |
| Jul | 88°F | 57°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 88°F | 57°F | 0.09" |
| Sep | 85°F | 55°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 78°F | 49°F | 0.75" |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 1.68" |
| Dec | 58°F | 38°F | 2.80" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Blackhawk
Uninsured
2.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Blackhawk's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
San Ramon Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · San Ramon
Stanford Health Care Tri-valley
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Pleasanton
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Walnut Creek
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Blackhawk
Blackhawk's student/teacher ratio is 23.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 69.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Blackhawk (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-East Bay
13.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,809 students · in-state tuition $7,993 · 69% graduate · median earnings $73,868 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,320 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $49,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,299 students · in-state tuition $1,348 · 30% graduate · median earnings $57,379 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
10.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Northeastern University Oakland
14.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 464 students · in-state tuition $71,033 · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Blackhawk
Blackhawk has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
16 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
18 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
25 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
28 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
30 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayCities Near Blackhawk
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Blackhawk?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Blackhawk FAQ
Is Blackhawk, California affordable?⌄
Blackhawk's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $245,208/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Blackhawk, California safe?⌄
Blackhawk is policed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 252 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 929 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Blackhawk, California?⌄
Contra Costa County, which includes Blackhawk, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Blackhawk, California?⌄
The cost of living in Blackhawk is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $245,208/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Blackhawk, California?⌄
The average commute in Blackhawk is 36 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from