Population 67,290 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of San Benito County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in San Benito County
Household size in San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.18 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.39 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.36 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.30 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
San Benito County is a place of big households: 3.30 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 3.18, 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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.4 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.6 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.6 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of San Benito County 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 34.4, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the north, the 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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.4% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in San Benito County: 15.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. San Benito County has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five California counties.
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 San Benito County
Renters in San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7% | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.3% | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in San Benito County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the San Jose area as a whole (44.5%). More than a quarter of owners (27.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 3.7 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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in San Benito County: just 4.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend. San Benito County has the lowest vacancy rate of any California county.
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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1981 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in San Benito County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1981 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Few California counties have newer homes: only three of 58.
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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,273 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,372 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,627 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,974 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$701 | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in San Benito County costs $1,974 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the San Jose area overall ($2,873). Rents are up $701 a month from 2006–10, a 55% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.5% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 San Benito County
Bachelor's degrees in San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in San Benito County: 25.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the north.
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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.4% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.9% | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.3% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in San Benito County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 San Benito County
| Period | San Benito County | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in San Benito County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
San Benito County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Benito County | 3.30 | 36.6 | 15.0% | 32.1% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,974 | 25.1% | 84.3% | 5.3% |
| Santa Cruz County | 2.74 | 40.7 | 9.8% | 40.1% | 8.6% | 1973 | $2,361 | 42.8% | 87.4% | 6.2% |
| Fresno County | 3.20 | 34.4 | 17.5% | 44.5% | 6.3% | 1983 | $1,640 | 23.9% | 78.3% | 8.8% |
| San Juan County | 2.99 | 38.7 | 15.7% | 28.8% | 13.5% | 1987 | $1,018 | 19.0% | 87.3% | 7.3% |
| Cimarron County | 3.13 | 47.7 | 5.6% | 21.6% | 48.1% | 1963 | $653 | 30.4% | 86.7% | 0.3% |
| Texas County | 3.09 | 34.0 | 16.5% | 33.6% | 17.7% | 1975 | $844 | 20.7% | 76.2% | 3.6% |
| Beaver County | 3.07 | 39.5 | 9.4% | 19.1% | 31.3% | 1970 | $818 | 21.2% | 84.8% | 3.5% |
| Harper County | 2.36 | 41.5 | 3.6% | 16.4% | 22.1% | 1965 | $855 | 29.7% | 88.5% | 2.8% |
| Woods County | 2.11 | 34.9 | 10.0% | 34.7% | 14.9% | 1960 | $791 | 32.1% | 89.9% | 4.9% |
| Grant County | 2.52 | 43.6 | 9.0% | 23.7% | 25.1% | 1967 | $830 | 23.3% | 91.5% | 4.1% |
| Kay County | 2.57 | 38.8 | 13.2% | 30.8% | 19.3% | 1963 | $920 | 18.8% | 90.2% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Reno County, KS · McKinley County, NM · Mercer County, WV · Montcalm County, MI · Morgan County, IN · Pittsylvania County, VA · Portage County, WI · Pottawatomie County, OK · Pulaski County, KY · Putnam County, FL
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 San Benito County. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.