Population 1,649,473 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alameda County
Household size in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.87 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.91 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.81 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Alameda County holds 2.81 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. The San Francisco area as a whole looks much the same. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.1 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.0 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Alameda County are younger than 40.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.1 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Alameda County (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the San Francisco area. The single-parent share has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alameda County
Renters in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.9% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.1% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.6% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Alameda County than nationally: 45.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 31.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the east. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.7 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Alameda County: 7.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the San Francisco area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.0 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Alameda County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Only four of California's 58 counties have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,375 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,482 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,046 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,582 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,207 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Alameda County pays $2,582 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,207 a month from 2006–10, an 88% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alameda County
Bachelor's degrees in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.8% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.1% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.0% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.1 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Alameda County: 52.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 12.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of California's 58 counties, only four have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Alameda County have finished high school as nationally: 88.4%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alameda County
| Period | Alameda County | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.4%, unemployment in Alameda County is the same as the national rate. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alameda County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | 2.81 | 40.0 | 9.2% | 45.6% | 7.0% | 1969 | $2,582 | 52.0% | 88.4% | 5.4% |
| San Francisco County | 2.33 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 61.8% | 11.6% | 1955 | $2,584 | 59.8% | 88.8% | 6.4% |
| Stanislaus County | 3.20 | 35.5 | 14.8% | 38.8% | 5.3% | 1981 | $1,709 | 19.1% | 79.4% | 8.0% |
| Mono County | 2.33 | 44.7 | 13.9% | 34.6% | 44.6% | 1980 | $1,484 | 35.2% | 91.4% | 4.0% |
| Esmeralda County | 2.03 | 55.0 | 11.4% | 39.2% | 27.1% | 1986 | $1,320 | 21.1% | 83.2% | 0.6% |
| Lincoln County | 2.43 | 42.4 | 10.9% | 25.0% | 29.3% | 1978 | $853 | 21.2% | 94.7% | 1.7% |
| Iron County | 3.06 | 32.4 | 9.3% | 31.7% | 10.5% | 1996 | $1,393 | 31.3% | 92.9% | 3.8% |
| Garfield County | 2.46 | 40.0 | 5.0% | 29.7% | 30.3% | 1979 | $1,050 | 28.4% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Dolores County | 1.95 | 53.0 | 6.5% | 18.7% | 17.6% | 1978 | $1,116 | 27.3% | 95.8% | 2.4% |
| San Juan County | 1.81 | 37.5 | 6.3% | 47.1% | 45.9% | 1979 | $992 | 52.1% | 100.0% | 9.4% |
| Mineral County | 1.88 | 56.4 | 1.0% | 30.3% | 67.3% | 1985 | $928 | 51.7% | 98.4% | 9.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Santa Clara County, CA · Riverside County, CA · San Bernardino County, CA · Pima County, AZ · Travis County, TX · Sacramento County, CA · Contra Costa County, CA · Clark County, NV · Broward County, FL · Honolulu County, HI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alameda County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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