Population 6,771 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Oceano
Household size in Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.77 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.96 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.44 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Oceano is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.77 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 56 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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.3 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +12.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.3, Oceano is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 32.3 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the northwest 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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Oceano (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in California overall (12.3%). The single-parent share has fallen 6.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Oceano
Renters in Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −11.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Oceano than nationally: 41.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). Among owners, 40.7% have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 11.2 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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.6% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Oceano than nationally: 12.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, 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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Oceano are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,134 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,227 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,225 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,773 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$639 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Oceano pays $1,773 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in California as a whole ($2,229). Rents are up $639 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. 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 Oceano
Bachelor's degrees in Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.3% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Oceano have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.6% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Oceano never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 6.4 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 Oceano
| Period | Oceano | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Oceano than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Only 42 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Oceano 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceano | 2.33 | 45.3 | 10.7% | 41.1% | 12.2% | 1978 | $1,773 | 21.4% | 81.0% | 3.5% |
| Grover Beach | 2.53 | 42.1 | 20.1% | 49.6% | 18.0% | 1977 | $2,038 | 30.3% | 85.0% | 4.2% |
| Arroyo Grande | 2.49 | 47.4 | 5.9% | 32.3% | 8.3% | 1984 | $2,206 | 45.0% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Pismo Beach | 2.02 | 53.1 | 6.1% | 35.4% | 29.9% | 1985 | $2,286 | 53.0% | 97.8% | 4.5% |
| Los Berros | 2.68 | 52.1 | 14.4% | 14.7% | 21.7% | 1985 | $2,243 | 39.0% | 96.7% | 3.7% |
| Shell Beach | 2.22 | 52.1 | 2.0% | 44.9% | 15.9% | 2001 | $2,389 | 70.6% | 98.9% | 2.6% |
| Halcyon | 3.02 | 44.0 | 7.7% | 29.2% | 23.7% | 1989 | $2,610 | 51.2% | 89.8% | 5.2% |
| Nipomo | 2.89 | 44.4 | 9.9% | 31.0% | 9.4% | 1994 | $2,120 | 30.2% | 87.3% | 2.7% |
| Avila Beach | 2.25 | 56.4 | 1.4% | 25.7% | 27.3% | 2001 | $2,273 | 79.7% | 98.4% | 0.9% |
| Huasna | 3.12 | 45.6 | 16.0% | 10.1% | 25.8% | 1981 | $2,494 | 43.1% | 96.0% | 5.1% |
| San Luis Obispo | 2.42 | 32.3 | 4.6% | 57.2% | 9.6% | 1978 | $2,069 | 51.8% | 94.8% | 7.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mountain View, AR · Perkinston, MS · Ocean City, FL · Nebraska City, NE · Nashville, AR · Narvon, PA · Munfordville, KY · Muldrow, OK · Moxee, WA · Mountville, PA
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 Oceano. 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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