Population 103,443 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in San Marcos
Household size in San Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.00 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.03 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.15 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.00 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
San Marcos is a place of big households: 3.00 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Households are largest in the north 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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.8 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.6 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.0 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in San Marcos are younger than 39.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the west.
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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in San Marcos (10.6%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the San Diego area.
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 Marcos
Renters in San Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.0% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.0% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.9% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in San Marcos is about as common as it is nationally: 34.9% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the San Diego area as a whole (45.4%). More than a quarter of owners (27.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in San Marcos: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The San Diego area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1989 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
San Marcos has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 65 have newer homes.
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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,479 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,457 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,065 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,500 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,020 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in San Marcos costs $2,500 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,020 a month since 2006–10, up 69%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 38.9% of household income on rent, 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 San Marcos
Bachelor's degrees in San Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.3% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.5% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.3 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in San Marcos (43.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 12.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northwest.
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 Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.2% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.3% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.5% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.6% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in San Marcos never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The San Diego area as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 4.4 points from 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 San Marcos
| Period | San Marcos | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in San Marcos runs below the national rate: 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.4 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 Marcos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | 3.00 | 39.6 | 10.6% | 34.9% | 5.7% | 1993 | $2,500 | 43.5% | 87.6% | 4.7% |
| Vista | 3.10 | 37.2 | 13.7% | 44.7% | 5.3% | 1982 | $2,368 | 28.5% | 82.1% | 6.8% |
| Escondido | 2.99 | 39.4 | 11.8% | 40.9% | 4.8% | 1982 | $2,385 | 31.7% | 82.0% | 4.8% |
| Carlsbad | 2.65 | 43.7 | 7.0% | 36.8% | 8.0% | 1989 | $2,871 | 63.1% | 97.0% | 5.3% |
| Sunny Vista | 2.78 | 40.2 | 10.3% | 34.6% | 6.1% | 1996 | $3,241 | 61.1% | 94.8% | 5.0% |
| Encinitas | 2.59 | 45.6 | 7.7% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1982 | $2,941 | 67.3% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 2.69 | 49.0 | 8.3% | 11.1% | 24.0% | 1986 | $3,462 | 74.3% | 98.5% | 5.6% |
| Cardiff By The Sea | 2.56 | 42.6 | 4.6% | 38.5% | 12.0% | 1977 | $3,075 | 72.1% | 94.4% | 3.8% |
| Oceanside | 2.91 | 38.5 | 9.5% | 45.0% | 7.1% | 1986 | $2,580 | 35.2% | 87.9% | 5.6% |
| Bonsall | 2.64 | 48.4 | 10.5% | 25.6% | 5.4% | 1992 | $2,392 | 45.9% | 90.3% | 5.0% |
| Valley Center | 3.24 | 43.6 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 9.3% | 1988 | $2,172 | 32.9% | 88.1% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clinton Township, MI · Clayton, NC · Cheyenne, WY · Carolina, PR · Cedar Park, TX · Chino, CA · Chino Hills, CA · Caldwell, ID · Centennial, CO · Canton, OH
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 Marcos. 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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