Population 27,228 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lemon Grove
Household size in Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.91 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.10 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.24 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.25 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.35 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Lemon Grove are large by national standards, averaging 3.25 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 2.91, 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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.9 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.3 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lemon Grove is 36.6 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the center.
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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Lemon Grove (12.8%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while 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 Lemon Grove
Renters in Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.6% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.4% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.9% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Lemon Grove than nationally: 46.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 17.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 5.4 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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.7% of homes in Lemon Grove are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Lemon Grove has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of California cities.
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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Lemon Grove is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the south 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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,237 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,298 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,437 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,290 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,053 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lemon Grove costs $2,290 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the San Diego area as a whole ($2,468). Rents are up $1,053 a month from 2006–10, an 85% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Lemon Grove
Bachelor's degrees in Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lemon Grove have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center 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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.3% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.5% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.7% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Lemon Grove have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Lemon Grove
| Period | Lemon Grove | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lemon Grove is close to the national rate: 6.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Lemon Grove 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Grove | 3.25 | 36.6 | 12.8% | 46.9% | 4.7% | 1966 | $2,290 | 20.1% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| La Presa | 3.22 | 37.4 | 11.6% | 33.3% | 4.9% | 1975 | $2,048 | 25.3% | 85.5% | 7.6% |
| La Mesa | 2.47 | 38.3 | 9.8% | 51.1% | 5.8% | 1968 | $2,134 | 40.9% | 94.6% | 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% |
| 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% |
| Rancho San Diego | 2.88 | 45.8 | 4.7% | 25.2% | 6.2% | 1984 | $2,573 | 43.9% | 93.4% | 8.0% |
| San Diego area | 2.86 | 39.0 | 10.4% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1981 | $2,468 | 42.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| El Cajon | 3.01 | 38.1 | 13.0% | 49.7% | 4.7% | 1975 | $2,021 | 25.0% | 85.2% | 9.3% |
| Chula Vista | 3.30 | 38.0 | 14.1% | 40.9% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,572 | 33.3% | 86.4% | 7.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Alton, IL · Ashland, CA · Powell, TN · Murrells Inlet, SC · Naranjito, PR · Nazareth, PA · New Castle, IN · New London, CT · New Windsor, NY · Olney, MD
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 Lemon Grove. 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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