Population 14,484 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Los Osos
Household size in Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Los Osos is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.33 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the south.
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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.9 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.1, Los Osos is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.8, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the southeast.
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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Los Osos: 6.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Los Osos has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
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 Los Osos
Renters in Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.8% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Los Osos own their homes; 26.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 37.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.4 points, 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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Los Osos: 5.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of California. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.3 points, 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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Los Osos are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,211 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,273 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,684 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,053 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$843 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Los Osos costs $2,053 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California as a whole ($2,229). Rent has climbed $843 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Los Osos
Bachelor's degrees in Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.4% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.4% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +18.8 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Los Osos is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (53.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 18.8 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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Los Osos: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Los Osos has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five 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 Los Osos
| Period | Los Osos | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Los Osos is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California as a whole (6.6%). 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).
Los Osos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Osos | 2.39 | 48.1 | 6.2% | 26.8% | 5.9% | 1976 | $2,053 | 53.2% | 96.8% | 5.3% |
| Morro Bay | 2.09 | 53.6 | 5.4% | 34.1% | 20.6% | 1974 | $1,877 | 47.2% | 95.7% | 6.4% |
| Cayucos | 1.96 | 57.8 | 4.0% | 39.4% | 40.6% | 1975 | $1,816 | 44.5% | 96.5% | 1.6% |
| Avila Beach | 2.25 | 56.4 | 1.4% | 25.7% | 27.3% | 2001 | $2,273 | 79.7% | 98.4% | 0.9% |
| San Luis Obispo | 2.42 | 32.3 | 4.6% | 57.2% | 9.6% | 1978 | $2,069 | 51.8% | 94.8% | 7.9% |
| Atascadero | 2.55 | 42.5 | 8.1% | 34.1% | 5.8% | 1985 | $2,107 | 32.7% | 93.7% | 5.3% |
| Garden Farms | 3.19 | 39.8 | 4.0% | 30.5% | 13.9% | 1985 | $2,056 | 38.8% | 95.9% | 1.2% |
| Santa Margarita | 2.22 | 44.7 | 4.9% | 36.8% | 11.1% | 1984 | $2,020 | 32.5% | 95.8% | 1.1% |
| Creston | 2.81 | 50.0 | 9.3% | 26.2% | 13.1% | 1989 | $1,697 | 39.9% | 94.5% | 3.2% |
| Pozo | 2.38 | 61.7 | 13.2% | 28.0% | 23.9% | 1979 | $2,009 | 25.5% | 98.7% | 3.6% |
| La Panza | 2.58 | 54.1 | 8.4% | 28.7% | 15.1% | 1988 | $1,385 | 28.6% | 94.9% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hampstead, MD · Spring Branch, TX · Speedway, IN · Sparta, MI · Shively, KY · Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI · Harriman, TN · Hanover, MA · Hampton Bays, NY · Spring Lake, 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 Los Osos. 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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