Population 731 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Big Sur: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Big Sur
Household size in Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.08 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Big Sur has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Big Sur is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.1, against 40.1 nationally. California as a whole looks much the same.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Big Sur: 2.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 8.7 points from 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Big Sur
Renters in Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 58.2% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +20.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Big Sur: 58.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. More than four in ten owners (43.1%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.4% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −11.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.1% of the housing in Big Sur, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Big Sur leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across California.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,064 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,038 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $777 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,231 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$167 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Big Sur pays $1,231 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 28.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Big Sur
Bachelor's degrees in Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.3% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.1% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Big Sur is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%.
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.7% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Big Sur have finished high school as nationally: 87.9%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%).
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 Big Sur
| Period | Big Sur | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Big Sur has been low: just 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Big Sur compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sur | 2.45 | 38.1 | 2.0% | 58.2% | 31.1% | 1975 | $1,231 | 47.1% | 87.9% | 1.2% |
| Posts | 2.45 | 38.2 | 1.9% | 58.4% | 31.2% | 1975 | $1,233 | 47.2% | 87.8% | 1.2% |
| Jamesburg | 2.50 | 45.0 | 10.4% | 39.7% | 10.6% | 1970 | $1,124 | 23.5% | 85.8% | 4.5% |
| Greenfield | 4.57 | 29.9 | 25.8% | 47.2% | 6.5% | 1993 | $1,811 | 8.2% | 50.0% | 2.4% |
| Metz | 2.94 | 37.5 | 18.1% | 69.3% | 10.1% | 1980 | $1,073 | 10.0% | 62.0% | 0.0% |
| King City | 4.06 | 30.9 | 18.3% | 48.9% | 7.3% | 1985 | $1,641 | 13.0% | 53.2% | 5.8% |
| San Lucas | 3.07 | 36.6 | 27.1% | 30.4% | 30.0% | 1987 | $1,553 | 18.8% | 81.8% | 3.8% |
| Lonoak | 3.27 | 38.3 | 10.3% | 32.5% | 29.5% | 1981 | $1,449 | 32.6% | 90.8% | 4.4% |
| Coalinga | 3.06 | 33.7 | 15.5% | 47.2% | 6.8% | 1982 | $1,217 | 14.4% | 74.6% | 11.6% |
| Turk | 3.07 | 39.5 | 12.4% | 43.0% | 17.0% | 2000 | $1,433 | 8.1% | 63.1% | 4.7% |
| Five Points | 3.34 | 33.6 | 7.7% | 76.6% | 20.0% | 1986 | $679 | 2.3% | 22.0% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lynx, OH · Eula, TX · Farber, MO · Malone, TX · Malo, WA · Steedman, MO · Makaha, HI · Flagg Center, IL · Staunton, OH · Foster, OR
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 Big Sur. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.