Population 32,972 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Foster City
Household size in Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.57 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Foster City run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the west. Foster City has smaller households than at least four in five California cities.
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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.5, the median age in Foster City is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 40.2 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Foster City: 7.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 0.6 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 Foster City
Renters in Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.4% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.9% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.2% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Foster City than nationally: 49.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. About four in ten owners (39.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 8.5 points, 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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Foster City than nationally: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Foster City are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the San Francisco area overall, where the median home dates to 1968. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast 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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,910 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,888 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $3,221 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,442 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,532 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Foster City pays $3,442 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,532 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.7% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have higher rents.
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 Foster City
Bachelor's degrees in Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.5% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.7% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.2% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 73.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Foster City: 73.8% 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. The share with a degree has risen 11.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 36 have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.4% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.0% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.4% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.3% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Foster City: 96.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Foster City 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 Foster City
| Period | Foster City | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Foster City is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the San Francisco area as a whole (5.8%). 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).
Foster City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster City | 2.55 | 41.5 | 7.1% | 49.2% | 5.9% | 1979 | $3,442 | 73.8% | 96.3% | 4.9% |
| San Mateo | 2.69 | 39.2 | 8.9% | 49.4% | 7.4% | 1966 | $3,100 | 56.6% | 90.0% | 4.6% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 40.9 | 5.3% | 44.5% | 8.8% | 1965 | $2,949 | 69.9% | 95.5% | 6.6% |
| San Carlos | 2.76 | 42.6 | 6.4% | 31.0% | 6.9% | 1962 | $3,060 | 71.2% | 96.9% | 4.7% |
| Highlands-Baywood Park | 3.19 | 43.8 | 0.8% | 9.9% | 3.5% | 1963 | $3,501 | 84.3% | 98.7% | 2.3% |
| Hillsborough | 3.05 | 47.0 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 6.4% | 1965 | $3,419 | 82.0% | 98.7% | 6.3% |
| Redwood City | 2.78 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 48.1% | 7.1% | 1970 | $3,033 | 55.4% | 87.4% | 4.3% |
| Burlingame | 2.51 | 41.7 | 6.9% | 50.9% | 11.0% | 1956 | $2,806 | 65.1% | 94.7% | 5.6% |
| North Fair Oaks | 3.70 | 34.7 | 16.9% | 59.7% | 6.9% | 1967 | $2,231 | 20.1% | 70.3% | 8.8% |
| Atherton | 2.78 | 44.1 | 4.0% | 16.2% | 15.9% | 1963 | $3,422 | 80.5% | 97.7% | 3.7% |
| Menlo Park | 2.79 | 40.4 | 6.5% | 42.0% | 11.7% | 1967 | $3,095 | 72.5% | 92.5% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ambler, PA · American Fork, UT · Williston, ND · Bell, CA · Bethel Park, PA · North Olmsted, OH · Boardman, OH · Boone, NC · Bowling Green, OH · Burlington, 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 Foster City. 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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