Population 3,288,774 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in San Diego County
Household size in San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County average 2.86 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in California as a whole, 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 San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 |
At 39.0, the median age in San Diego County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. 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 San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 parents head about one in ten households in San Diego County (10.4%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points, 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 San Diego County
Renters in San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County 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, in line with the national trend.
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 Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 |
Vacancy is on the low side in San Diego County: 7.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across California. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County 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 San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County pays $2,468 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,061 a month from 2006–10, a 75% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are 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 San Diego County
Bachelor's degrees in San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County (42.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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 San Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 San Diego County have finished high school as nationally: 89.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.0 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 Diego County
| Period | San Diego County | 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 |
Unemployment runs a little high in San Diego County: 6.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
San Diego 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 Diego County | 2.86 | 39.0 | 10.4% | 45.4% | 7.1% | 1981 | $2,468 | 42.8% | 89.0% | 6.1% |
| Imperial County | 3.53 | 33.6 | 16.9% | 43.2% | 14.9% | 1987 | $1,290 | 17.2% | 72.2% | 12.0% |
| Graham County | 2.92 | 35.7 | 16.9% | 26.9% | 10.0% | 1989 | $1,000 | 15.5% | 86.0% | 8.4% |
| Greenlee County | 2.76 | 37.6 | 15.2% | 47.0% | 19.6% | 1978 | $654 | 21.9% | 87.1% | 2.3% |
| Grant County | 2.49 | 48.6 | 6.2% | 24.2% | 22.1% | 1977 | $772 | 29.9% | 89.8% | 7.3% |
| Otero County | 2.97 | 39.1 | 15.8% | 33.0% | 21.0% | 1986 | $972 | 23.2% | 86.6% | 8.3% |
| Lea County | 3.03 | 32.8 | 16.0% | 28.8% | 13.7% | 1981 | $1,160 | 16.7% | 75.1% | 7.0% |
| Gaines County | 3.42 | 28.8 | 11.4% | 25.4% | 11.3% | 1990 | $811 | 12.2% | 55.0% | 2.3% |
| Dawson County | 2.68 | 34.8 | 15.4% | 29.4% | 21.9% | 1967 | $976 | 13.4% | 72.8% | 7.7% |
| Borden County | 2.93 | 32.2 | 4.9% | 33.7% | 34.0% | 1973 | $1,246 | 36.9% | 94.4% | 0.3% |
| Scurry County | 2.69 | 37.0 | 14.3% | 23.2% | 14.9% | 1970 | $1,018 | 15.5% | 82.3% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Orange County, CA · Maricopa County, AZ · Los Angeles County, CA · Erie County, NY · Harris County, TX · Lake County, IL · Davidson County, TN · DeKalb County, GA · Lee County, FL · Kings County, NY
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 Diego 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.
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