Sweet Home is built on a prehistoric petrified forest. In addition to fossil wood, the area includes a variety of agate, jasper, crystals and minerals. The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above . According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Sweet Home has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. The median income for a household in the city was $37,182; 20.0% of persons were below the poverty line. As of the census of 2010, there were 8,925 people, 3,440 households, and 2,315 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,768 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population. There were 3,440 households of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.7% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female. Major employers in Sweet Home include Ti Squared Technologies, a titanium foundry; White's Electronics, a metal detector manufacturer; HEVI-Shot, a manufacturer of shotshell ammunition; Cascade Timber Consulting, a timber investment management organization; United States Forest Service, Radiator Supply House, Murphy Plywood, McCool Millworks and the Sweet Home School District.