Carmichael is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is an unincorporated suburb in the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area. The population was 79,793 at the 2020 census.

Carmichael is located at 38°38′22″N 121°19′17″W / 38.63944°N 121.32139°W / 38.63944; -121.32139 (38.639431, -121.321348). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 13.8 square miles (36 km2), of which 13.5 square miles (35 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (1.92%) is water.

Daniel W. Carmichael (born 1867) came to California in 1885. In 1909, he developed Carmichael Colony No. I, 2,000 acres (8 km2) of what was once part of the Rancho San Juan Mexican land grant. He later bought another 1,000 acres (4 km2), previously part of the Rancho Del Paso Mexican land grant, that he called Carmichael Colony No. 2. It bordered the first colony to the east and Walnut Avenue to the west; the southern boundary was Arden Way with Sutter Avenue to the north.

At the 2010 census Carmichael had a population of 61,762. The population density was 4,477.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,728.9/km2). The racial makeup of Carmichael was 49,776 (80.6%) White, 3,972 (5.8%) African American, 546 (0.9%) Native American, 2,653 (4.3%) Asian (0.9% Filipino, 0.9% Chinese, 0.6% Korean, 0.5% Japanese, 0.5% Indian, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.6% Other), 287 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 2,035 (3.3%) from other races, and 3,493 (5.7%) from two or more races. There were 7.218 Hispanic or Latino people of any race (11.7%).

The census reported that 60,790 people (98.4% of the population) lived in households, 467 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 505 (0.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 26,036 households, 7,431 (28.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 11,016 (42.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,630 (13.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,417 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,642 (6.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 229 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 8,080 households (31.0%) were one person and 3,363 (12.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33. There were 16,063 families (61.7% of households); the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 13,060 people (21.1%) under the age of 18, 5,370 people (8.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,388 people (23.3%) aged 25 to 44, 18,054 people (29.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,890 people (17.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

There were 28,165 housing units at an average density of 2,042.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 14,472 (55.6%) were owner-occupied and 11,564 (44.4%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 34,442 people (55.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 26,348 people (42.7%) lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 49,742 people, 20,631 households, and 13,224 families in the CDP. The population density was 4,622.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,784.6/km2). There were 21,383 housing units at an average density of 1,987.0 per square mile (767.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.61% White, 2.69% African American, 0.83% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 2.09% from other races, and 3.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.99%.

Of the 20,631 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 10.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution was 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median household income was $47,041 and the median family income was $59,002. Males had a median income of $40,435 versus $32,265 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,811. About 6.4% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

In the California State Legislature, Carmichael is in the 6th Senate District, represented by Republican Roger W. Niello and in 6th Assembly District, represented by Kevin McCarty. https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

In the United States House of Representatives, Carmichael is in California's 6th Congressional district, represented by Ami Bera. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Law enforcement services are provided by the North Division of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Carmichael is served by one public school district, San Juan Unified.

La Sierra High School operated from 1957 to 1983, when it closed due to budget cuts, being selected among several schools in the district due to having the lowest attendance. The site was adapted as La Sierra Community Center in 1985.

Local high school students also attend other nearby schools in the San Juan Unified School District, such as:

Carmichael Park is a major 38-acre (150,000 m2) park in the town. The park includes five ballfields, six tennis courts, and a nine-hole disc golf course. The Community Clubhouse, Veterans' Memorial Building, the Daniel Bishop Memorial Pavilion for the Performing Arts, and the Great Wall of Carmichael are all within the park. A year-round farmers market is held at the park every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the nonprofit BeMoneySmartUSA.

The Jensen Botanical Gardens are at 8520 Fair Oaks Boulevard. They exhibit a variety of flora including camellias, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons.

The Chautauqua Playhouse has been in the La Sierra Community Center since 1985. The 95-seat theater shows comedies, dramas, and musicals. It has a children's theater with performances held on Saturdays. Chautauqua Playhouse is at 5325 Engle Road (between Walnut Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard).

Ancil Hoffman Park is a major park within the American River Parkway in Carmichael. It is a 396-acre (1.60 km2) park. It features the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. The oak-canopied park is bordered on two sides by the American River. Reconstructed Maidu Indian homes are at the entrance to the nature center. The Ancil Hoffman Golf Course is also part of the park. Many species of animals can be seen, including wild turkey, deer, coyotes and hawks. One can access the park via Fair Oaks Blvd. by following the signs.

The American River Parkway is a 32-mile (51 km) parkway that runs along the American River throughout Sacramento County. The parkway connects many smaller parks and numerous boat launching points. It can be accessed by various exits off Highway 50 in Sacramento County.