Population 31,530 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pacific Beach
Household size in Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.97 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.16 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Pacific Beach are small: just 2.05 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 crept up from 1.97, 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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.1 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.2 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Pacific Beach is young: half of its residents are under 35.2, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 33.8, mirroring the country.
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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Pacific Beach: 5.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Pacific Beach has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five San Diego neighborhoods.
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 Pacific Beach
Renters in Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.2% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 72.4% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 71.7% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 68.4% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Pacific Beach: 68.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 32.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southeast; owners are most common in the north. The renter share is down 0.7 points from 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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Pacific Beach is close to the national rate: 9.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Diego area overall (7.1%). Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Pacific Beach leans older: the median home dates to 1972, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the north 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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,420 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,540 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,961 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,545 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,126 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Pacific Beach pays $2,545 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,126 a month from 2006–10, a 79% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the north.
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 Pacific Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.6% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.6% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.0% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 68.7% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Pacific Beach: 68.7% 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 9.1 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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.4% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.6% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.6% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Pacific Beach: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Pacific Beach has a higher share of high school graduates than most San Diego neighborhoods.
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 Pacific Beach
| Period | Pacific Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pacific Beach runs below the national rate: 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.8 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).
Pacific Beach compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Beach | 2.05 | 35.2 | 5.2% | 68.4% | 9.9% | 1972 | $2,545 | 68.7% | 96.6% | 4.7% |
| Bay Ho | 2.55 | 39.6 | 12.9% | 45.5% | 4.0% | 1968 | $2,662 | 57.6% | 90.2% | 2.0% |
| Bay Park | 2.37 | 41.6 | 5.9% | 49.1% | 7.1% | 1964 | $2,701 | 61.5% | 95.9% | 2.9% |
| North Clairemont | 2.58 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 38.4% | 4.7% | 1960 | $2,201 | 46.6% | 90.5% | 8.2% |
| Moreno Mission | 2.18 | 26.6 | 7.1% | 65.7% | 18.9% | 1979 | $2,710 | 57.8% | 95.8% | 7.2% |
| Clairemont Mesa | 2.50 | 41.9 | 7.0% | 42.2% | 5.7% | 1968 | $2,481 | 49.6% | 91.9% | 4.2% |
| Loma Portal | 2.22 | 36.5 | 7.4% | 63.8% | 7.8% | 1968 | $2,688 | 60.2% | 97.6% | 3.4% |
| La Jolla Village | 1.96 | 33.2 | 7.6% | 56.8% | 7.1% | 1979 | $3,048 | 83.3% | 98.1% | 9.3% |
| Linda Vista | 2.70 | 38.1 | 9.1% | 51.5% | 6.2% | 1972 | $2,244 | 41.4% | 86.4% | 5.7% |
| Ocean Beach | 2.00 | 39.8 | 4.9% | 69.0% | 7.8% | 1962 | $2,515 | 62.0% | 97.9% | 5.3% |
| University City | 2.26 | 33.6 | 5.2% | 64.8% | 7.5% | 1983 | $2,653 | 76.0% | 96.9% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Near West Side, Chicago, IL · Mayfield, Philadelphia, PA · Rancho Charleston, Las Vegas, NV · Nevada-Lidgerwood, Spokane, WA · West Bloomington, Bloomington, MN · The Lakes, Las Vegas, NV · Oak Forest-Garden Oaks, Houston, TX · Pennsport-Whitman-Queen, Philadelphia, PA · Pottage Park, Chicago, IL · Mount Airy, Philadelphia, 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 Pacific Beach. 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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