Population 55,373 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in La Jolla
Household size in La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in La Jolla are small: just 2.21 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.34, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 32 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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.5 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.1 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
La Jolla is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.6, against 40.1 nationally. The San Diego area as a whole looks much the same. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in La Jolla: 5.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points, mirroring the country. Only 45 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 La Jolla
Renters in La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.7% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.0% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.8% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in La Jolla rent their homes (40.8%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in the San Diego area as a whole (45.4%). Among homeowners, 47.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 0.7 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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in La Jolla as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Diego area as a whole (7.1%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, as it has 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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in La Jolla leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,544 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,632 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,173 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,649 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,105 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in La Jolla costs $2,649 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,105 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable 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 La Jolla
Bachelor's degrees in La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.8% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 79.0% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 73.3% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 79.2% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
La Jolla is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (79.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 16 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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.4% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 99.0% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.8% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.2% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in La Jolla: 98.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only 30 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 La Jolla
| Period | La Jolla | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in La Jolla: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
La Jolla 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Jolla | 2.21 | 38.6 | 5.0% | 40.8% | 10.1% | 1975 | $2,649 | 79.2% | 98.2% | 7.8% |
| Del Mar | 2.37 | 50.6 | 5.1% | 28.2% | 15.1% | 1975 | $3,227 | 84.3% | 98.5% | 4.1% |
| San Diego area | 2.86 | 39.0 | 10.4% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1981 | $2,468 | 42.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Solana Beach | 2.28 | 50.4 | 6.2% | 31.9% | 11.6% | 1978 | $3,125 | 72.5% | 97.5% | 3.3% |
| La Mesa | 2.47 | 38.3 | 9.8% | 51.1% | 5.8% | 1968 | $2,134 | 40.9% | 94.6% | 6.1% |
| Lemon Grove | 3.25 | 36.6 | 12.8% | 46.9% | 4.7% | 1966 | $2,290 | 20.1% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Poway | 2.94 | 42.3 | 7.2% | 23.9% | 4.3% | 1980 | $2,738 | 54.3% | 94.3% | 5.2% |
| Santee | 2.81 | 40.5 | 7.8% | 27.7% | 4.2% | 1983 | $2,490 | 35.3% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | 2.80 | 45.6 | 12.6% | 22.8% | 5.9% | 1968 | $2,402 | 49.7% | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| La Presa | 3.22 | 37.4 | 11.6% | 33.3% | 4.9% | 1975 | $2,048 | 25.3% | 85.5% | 7.6% |
| Spring Valley | 3.18 | 39.1 | 12.5% | 38.5% | 3.8% | 1977 | $2,209 | 31.4% | 90.7% | 9.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bentonville, AR · Bonita Springs, FL · Carrollton, GA · Conway, SC · Royal Oak, MI · Mount Juliet, TN · Murray, UT · National City, CA · New Baltimore, MI · New Brunswick, 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 La Jolla. 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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