Checked
Big River, CA
Census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California. ZIP codes: 92242.
Population
1,140
Land area
10.8sq mi
People per sq mi
105
ZIP codes
1
Big River and its ZIP codes
Big River at a glance
- Big River is 58% less dense than California as a whole.
- The median household income is $39,773, 60% below the California median of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $126,200 (83% below California) and median rent is $839 a month.
Local data for Big River, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Big River, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$39,773
Poverty rate
20.0%
Median home value
$126,200
Median rent
$839/mo
Homeownership
79.5%
Bachelor's or higher
10.6%
Median age
59.5
Average commute
13.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (223), German Americans (222), Mexican Americans (121).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for San Bernardino County. PPP loans are for Big River.
Unemployment rate
5.7%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,749
848,961 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,991
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$11.6B
FY 2026, $5,298 per person
How people get to work
Big River, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone89.1%
- Carpooled0.0%
- Public transit2.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home8.9%
Average one-way commute: 13.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Big River, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
3,317
Countywide, mostly flash flood
Flood insurance policies
1,919
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
108° / 42°F
4.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Big River, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.7%
U.S. 33.3% +1.4 pts
Diabetes
17.5%
U.S. 12.1% +5.4 pts
Smoking
16.7%
U.S. 12.8% +3.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.8%
U.S. 11.1% -2.3 pts
ZIP codes in Big River
1 in or overlapping Big River. Population shown
Cities near Big River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BluewaterCensus-designated place | 6.3 mi | 1 |
| Bluewater, AZCensus-designated place | 6.3 mi | 2.1 |
| Cienega Springs, AZCensus-designated place | 9.5 mi | 3.5 |
| Poston, AZCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.4 |
| Parker, AZTown | 12 mi | 22 |
| Parker Strip, AZCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.1 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZCity | 26 mi | 46.3 |
| Bouse, AZCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 136.2 |
| Desert Hills, AZCensus-designated place | 29 mi | 4.3 |
| Crystal Beach, AZCensus-designated place | 30 mi | 0.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Big River, CA in?
- Big River is in San Bernardino County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in Big River, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Big River include 92242.
- What is the population of Big River, CA?
- About 1,140 people live in Big River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Big River?
- Nearby places include Bluewater (6.3 mi), Bluewater, AZ (6.3 mi), Cienega Springs, AZ (9.5 mi), Poston, AZ (11 mi), Parker, AZ (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023