Population 96,950 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carlsbad
Household size in Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.62 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.65 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.10 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.65 people per household, Carlsbad sits right at the national average. The typical household here is smaller than in the wider San Diego area, where it has 2.86 people. Household size has climbed from 2.55 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.4 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Carlsbad is 43.7 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.1, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the south.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Carlsbad: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Carlsbad has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
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 Carlsbad
Renters in Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.6% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.8% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Carlsbad is about as common as it is nationally: 36.8% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider San Diego area (45.4%). Just over three in ten owners (31.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Carlsbad: 8.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The San Diego area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Carlsbad is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1989, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Carlsbad has newer homes than the great majority of California cities.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,598 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,730 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,330 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,871 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,273 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Carlsbad pays $2,871 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,273 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.5% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Carlsbad
Bachelor's degrees in Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.6% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.3% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.5% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.1% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Carlsbad: 63.1% 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. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.6% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.1% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Carlsbad: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Carlsbad has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of California cities.
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 Carlsbad
| Period | Carlsbad | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carlsbad is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider San Diego area (6.1%). 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).
Carlsbad 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad | 2.65 | 43.7 | 7.0% | 36.8% | 8.0% | 1989 | $2,871 | 63.1% | 97.0% | 5.3% |
| Sunny Vista | 2.78 | 40.2 | 10.3% | 34.6% | 6.1% | 1996 | $3,241 | 61.1% | 94.8% | 5.0% |
| Encinitas | 2.59 | 45.6 | 7.7% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1982 | $2,941 | 67.3% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
| Vista | 3.10 | 37.2 | 13.7% | 44.7% | 5.3% | 1982 | $2,368 | 28.5% | 82.1% | 6.8% |
| San Marcos | 3.00 | 39.6 | 10.6% | 34.9% | 5.7% | 1993 | $2,500 | 43.5% | 87.6% | 4.7% |
| Cardiff By The Sea | 2.56 | 42.6 | 4.6% | 38.5% | 12.0% | 1977 | $3,075 | 72.1% | 94.4% | 3.8% |
| Oceanside | 2.91 | 38.5 | 9.5% | 45.0% | 7.1% | 1986 | $2,580 | 35.2% | 87.9% | 5.6% |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 2.69 | 49.0 | 8.3% | 11.1% | 24.0% | 1986 | $3,462 | 74.3% | 98.5% | 5.6% |
| Escondido | 2.99 | 39.4 | 11.8% | 40.9% | 4.8% | 1982 | $2,385 | 31.7% | 82.0% | 4.8% |
| Chappo | 3.12 | 21.7 | 1.5% | 99.0% | 7.4% | 2000 | $3,018 | 29.0% | 99.5% | 10.9% |
| Bonsall | 2.64 | 48.4 | 10.5% | 25.6% | 5.4% | 1992 | $2,392 | 45.9% | 90.3% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Folsom, CA · Flagstaff, AZ · Eugene, OR · Fairfax, VA · Farmington Hills, MI · Florissant, MO · Everett, WA · Fall River, MA · Fort Collins, CO · Fayetteville, NC
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 Carlsbad. 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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