The San Diego metro area: San Diego County · Population 3,288,774 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the San Diego area
Household size in the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in the San Diego area average 2.86 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in California overall, where it has 3.01 people. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the west.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the San Diego area are younger than 39.0 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.1 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in the San Diego area than nationally: 10.4%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 the San Diego area
Renters in the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in the San Diego area than nationally: 45.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 32.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, mirroring the country. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only two have a higher share of renters.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in the San Diego area than nationally: 7.1%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The figure for California is much the same. Vacancy is down 1.6 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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in the San Diego area are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in California overall, where the median home dates to 1976. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in the San Diego area pays $2,468 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,061 a month since 2006–10, up 75%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the south.
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 the San Diego area
Bachelor's degrees in the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in the San Diego area (42.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the south.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in the San Diego area have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 the San Diego area
| Period | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in the San Diego area than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, 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).
Largest cities in the San Diego area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego area (all) | 2.86 | 39.0 | 10.4% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1981 | $2,468 | 42.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Chula Vista | 3.30 | 38.0 | 14.1% | 40.9% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,572 | 33.3% | 86.4% | 7.6% |
| Oceanside | 2.91 | 38.5 | 9.5% | 45.0% | 7.1% | 1986 | $2,580 | 35.2% | 87.9% | 5.6% |
| Escondido | 2.99 | 39.4 | 11.8% | 40.9% | 4.8% | 1982 | $2,385 | 31.7% | 82.0% | 4.8% |
| El Cajon | 3.01 | 38.1 | 13.0% | 49.7% | 4.7% | 1975 | $2,021 | 25.0% | 85.2% | 9.3% |
| Vista | 3.10 | 37.2 | 13.7% | 44.7% | 5.3% | 1982 | $2,368 | 28.5% | 82.1% | 6.8% |
| San Marcos | 3.00 | 39.6 | 10.6% | 34.9% | 5.7% | 1993 | $2,500 | 43.5% | 87.6% | 4.7% |
| Carlsbad | 2.65 | 43.7 | 7.0% | 36.8% | 8.0% | 1989 | $2,871 | 63.1% | 97.0% | 5.3% |
| La Mesa | 2.47 | 38.3 | 9.8% | 51.1% | 5.8% | 1968 | $2,134 | 40.9% | 94.6% | 6.1% |
| Santee | 2.81 | 40.5 | 7.8% | 27.7% | 4.2% | 1983 | $2,490 | 35.3% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| National City | 3.13 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 64.2% | 8.0% | 1968 | $1,771 | 17.1% | 76.8% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: St. Louis area · Baltimore area · Denver area · Portland area · Tampa area · Minneapolis area · Seattle area · Detroit area · Riverside area · San Francisco area
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 the San Diego area. 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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