Population 11,538 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Morro Bay
Household size in Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.03 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.01 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Morro Bay is a place of small households, averaging 2.09 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.03, even as the national average fell. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 17 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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.3 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.5 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.2 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Morro Bay skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 52.3, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 13 are older.
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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in Morro Bay, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 57 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 Morro Bay
Renters in Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.0% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 51.3% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Morro Bay is about as common as it is nationally: 34.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). Among homeowners, 42.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has fallen 6.9 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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.6% of the housing in Morro Bay, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Morro Bay run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. That is in line with the rest of California. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, 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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,114 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,275 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,589 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,877 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$762 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Morro Bay costs $1,877 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rents are up $762 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.9% of the typical renter's income, 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 Morro Bay
Bachelor's degrees in Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Morro Bay: 47.2% 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 is up 15.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Morro Bay: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay
| Period | Morro Bay | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Morro Bay: 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Morro Bay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morro Bay | 2.09 | 53.6 | 5.4% | 34.1% | 20.6% | 1974 | $1,877 | 47.2% | 95.7% | 6.4% |
| Los Osos | 2.39 | 48.1 | 6.2% | 26.8% | 5.9% | 1976 | $2,053 | 53.2% | 96.8% | 5.3% |
| Cayucos | 1.96 | 57.8 | 4.0% | 39.4% | 40.6% | 1975 | $1,816 | 44.5% | 96.5% | 1.6% |
| Atascadero | 2.55 | 42.5 | 8.1% | 34.1% | 5.8% | 1985 | $2,107 | 32.7% | 93.7% | 5.3% |
| San Luis Obispo | 2.42 | 32.3 | 4.6% | 57.2% | 9.6% | 1978 | $2,069 | 51.8% | 94.8% | 7.9% |
| Avila Beach | 2.25 | 56.4 | 1.4% | 25.7% | 27.3% | 2001 | $2,273 | 79.7% | 98.4% | 0.9% |
| 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: Humboldt, TN · Shady Hills, FL · Seven Hills, OH · Senatobia, MS · Seminole, OK · Selma, TX · Johnstown, NY · Jefferson, LA · Jamesville, NY · Isanti, MN
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 Morro Bay. 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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