Population 9,317 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Capitola
Household size in Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.05 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Capitola is a place of small households, averaging 2.15 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.05 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only 22 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Capitola skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Capitola (9.9%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Capitola
Renters in Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 52.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.0% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.3% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Capitola than nationally: 48.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 42.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 7.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Capitola is close to the national rate: 10.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in California overall (7.3%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 5.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Capitola leans a little older: the median home dates to 1974, against 1980 nationally. California as a whole looks much the same. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,358 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,609 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,768 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,416 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,058 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Capitola pays $2,416 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,058 a month since 2006–10, up 78%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
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 Capitola
Bachelor's degrees in Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.8% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.0% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Capitola is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (47.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 11.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Capitola have finished high school as nationally: 90.6%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California as a whole (84.2%). The share with a diploma is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Capitola
| Period | Capitola | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Capitola has been low: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only four have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 5.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Capitola 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitola | 2.15 | 47.6 | 9.9% | 48.3% | 10.4% | 1974 | $2,416 | 47.0% | 90.6% | 2.2% |
| Soquel | 2.63 | 44.9 | 7.8% | 26.1% | 7.0% | 1976 | $2,127 | 52.2% | 96.8% | 6.0% |
| Santa Cruz | 2.45 | 38.6 | 8.1% | 47.0% | 9.3% | 1971 | $2,418 | 53.3% | 93.8% | 6.1% |
| Aptos | 2.52 | 47.2 | 8.7% | 30.9% | 10.0% | 1977 | $2,336 | 48.7% | 96.3% | 5.7% |
| Rio del Mar | 2.42 | 51.2 | 5.8% | 24.7% | 16.6% | 1972 | $3,399 | 64.9% | 97.8% | 5.6% |
| Scotts Valley | 2.45 | 47.2 | 6.6% | 24.8% | 6.4% | 1982 | $2,621 | 57.7% | 96.0% | 3.6% |
| La Selva Beach | 2.31 | 49.5 | 5.1% | 22.3% | 20.2% | 1970 | $3,297 | 63.0% | 95.3% | 2.2% |
| Mount Hermon | 2.01 | 45.2 | 4.9% | 34.9% | 18.0% | 1956 | $1,953 | 63.2% | 98.3% | 2.2% |
| Corralitos | 1.92 | 62.1 | 0.8% | 16.5% | 0.6% | 1975 | $2,041 | 41.4% | 98.3% | 0.9% |
| Felton | 2.41 | 44.9 | 6.0% | 22.4% | 8.1% | 1962 | $2,341 | 58.5% | 98.2% | 4.2% |
| Ben Lomond | 2.45 | 47.2 | 8.4% | 28.6% | 4.8% | 1963 | $2,385 | 46.0% | 98.1% | 10.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Littleton, MA · Westville, NJ · Prince Frederick, MD · Circle Pines, MN · Claremont, NC · Clarence, NY · West Yarmouth, MA · Clayton, NJ · Poplarville, MS · Sparta, NJ
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 Capitola. 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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