Population 272,186 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Chula Vista
Household size in Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.27 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.32 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.39 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.30 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Chula Vista are large by national standards, averaging 3.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has crept up from 3.27 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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.7 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Chula Vista is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 33.7 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the north.
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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Chula Vista (14.1%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Chula Vista
Renters in Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.3% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.5% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.9% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Chula Vista than nationally: 40.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in the San Diego area overall (45.4%). About three in ten owners (30.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the northeast.
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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Chula Vista: 6.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the San Diego area. Vacancy has fallen 5.1 points since 2006–10, 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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Chula Vista is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,563 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,590 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,967 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,572 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,009 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Chula Vista runs $2,572 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,009 a month from 2006–10, a 65% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 35.2% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Chula Vista
Bachelor's degrees in Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.2% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.0% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.3% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Chula Vista as nationally: 33.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the San Diego area as a whole (42.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.0% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 81.9% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.5% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Chula Vista never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 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 Chula Vista
| Period | Chula Vista | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.8% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Chula Vista: 7.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, 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).
Chula Vista 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista | 3.30 | 38.0 | 14.1% | 40.9% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,572 | 33.3% | 86.4% | 7.6% |
| Bonita | 3.02 | 44.6 | 9.2% | 22.0% | 3.0% | 1979 | $2,075 | 41.9% | 91.4% | 5.6% |
| National City | 3.13 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 64.2% | 8.0% | 1968 | $1,771 | 17.1% | 76.8% | 6.2% |
| San Ysidro | 3.46 | 37.2 | 16.8% | 62.5% | 7.1% | 1984 | $1,812 | 11.7% | 65.4% | 11.1% |
| La Presa | 3.22 | 37.4 | 11.6% | 33.3% | 4.9% | 1975 | $2,048 | 25.3% | 85.5% | 7.6% |
| Imperial Beach | 2.73 | 37.0 | 17.0% | 68.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $2,132 | 25.6% | 88.2% | 7.8% |
| Lemon Grove | 3.25 | 36.6 | 12.8% | 46.9% | 4.7% | 1966 | $2,290 | 20.1% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Spring Valley | 3.18 | 39.1 | 12.5% | 38.5% | 3.8% | 1977 | $2,209 | 31.4% | 90.7% | 9.7% |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | 2.80 | 45.6 | 12.6% | 22.8% | 5.9% | 1968 | $2,402 | 49.7% | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| Coronado | 2.46 | 42.8 | 14.1% | 45.4% | 20.1% | 1971 | $3,107 | 59.5% | 98.1% | 6.8% |
| La Mesa | 2.47 | 38.3 | 9.8% | 51.1% | 5.8% | 1968 | $2,134 | 40.9% | 94.6% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Plano, TX · Pasadena, TX · Pharr, TX · Pflugerville, TX · Pasadena, CA · Poinciana, FL · Philadelphia, PA · Peoria, IL · Paterson, NJ · Pomona, CA
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 Chula Vista. 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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