Population 5,501 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Emerald Hills
Household size in Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.17 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.60 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.74 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.66 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.49 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Emerald Hills are large by national standards, averaging 3.66 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 3.17, even as the national average fell. Only six of San Diego's 81 neighborhoods have larger 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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.3 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.7 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.6 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.7 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.3 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 31.7, Emerald Hills is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. The median age has crept up from 31.3 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of San Diego's 81 neighborhoods, only five are younger.
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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.0% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 18.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Emerald Hills: 27.4% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Emerald Hills has the highest share of single-parent households of any San Diego neighborhood.
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 Emerald Hills
Renters in Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.7% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.5% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.3% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Emerald Hills than nationally: 41.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Locally, though, renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider San Diego area (45.4%). Among homeowners, 32.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Emerald Hills: 6.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the San Diego area. Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Emerald Hills is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southeast has the oldest housing.
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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $981 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,064 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,284 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,784 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$803 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Emerald Hills costs $1,784 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the San Diego area overall ($2,468). Rent has climbed $803 a month since 2006–10, up 82%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Emerald Hills
Bachelor's degrees in Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.6 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Emerald Hills than nationally: 26.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 14.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south 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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 67.3% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 71.0% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 78.1% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.5% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +17.3 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Emerald Hills never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 17.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Emerald Hills
| Period | Emerald Hills | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Emerald Hills: 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.2 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Emerald Hills compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Hills | 3.66 | 31.7 | 27.4% | 41.3% | 6.0% | 1965 | $1,784 | 26.5% | 84.5% | 7.2% |
| Valencia Park | 3.45 | 38.0 | 12.2% | 44.6% | 6.0% | 1970 | $1,890 | 18.6% | 72.3% | 6.3% |
| Encanto | 3.51 | 36.9 | 20.4% | 34.6% | 2.9% | 1973 | $2,039 | 22.3% | 80.8% | 6.7% |
| Chollas View | 4.09 | 32.5 | 25.0% | 71.1% | 9.7% | 1964 | $1,888 | 10.6% | 65.6% | 8.7% |
| Lincoln Park | 3.70 | 32.1 | 25.3% | 64.5% | 4.6% | 1976 | $1,824 | 12.1% | 68.5% | 7.5% |
| Ridgeview-Webster | 2.88 | 50.9 | 19.3% | 42.8% | 7.1% | 1960 | $1,934 | 25.3% | 84.1% | 12.7% |
| Oak Park | 3.21 | 34.6 | 12.3% | 51.2% | 3.2% | 1972 | $2,011 | 22.3% | 76.6% | 6.4% |
| Alta Vista | 3.71 | 44.6 | 10.1% | 23.1% | 5.6% | 1978 | $2,443 | 24.3% | 83.5% | 3.5% |
| Mount Hope | 3.57 | 33.4 | 17.2% | 58.3% | 9.4% | 1966 | $1,896 | 10.7% | 69.4% | 5.2% |
| Mountain View San Diego | 3.52 | 33.2 | 21.7% | 67.5% | 5.0% | 1973 | $1,729 | 15.7% | 65.7% | 10.6% |
| Darnall | 3.06 | 35.2 | 23.1% | 34.5% | 2.3% | 1968 | $2,067 | 23.7% | 80.6% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Traditions, Aurora, CO · Downtown Lorain, Lorain, OH · Downtown Salinas, Salinas, CA · Vineyard, Escondido, CA · Old Saginaw City, Saginaw, MI · Euclid Ave South, Helena, MT · Far Southside, Abilene, TX · Fernside, Alameda, CA · First Ward, Binghamton, NY · Fordville, Southgate, MI
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 Emerald Hills. 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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