Population 131,115 · 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 Santa Clara: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Santa Clara
Household size in Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.63 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.57 people per household, Santa Clara sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the wider San Jose area, where it has 2.96 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.63, in line with the national trend.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.3 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.5 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.3 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Santa Clara is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.3, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 35.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the center.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.1% of households in Santa Clara, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 49 have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Santa Clara
Renters in Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.7% | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 54.9% | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 56.7% | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 58.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Santa Clara: 58.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 31.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 49 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people 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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Santa Clara: 6.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the San Jose area.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Santa Clara are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the center.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,490 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,679 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,457 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,986 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,496 | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Santa Clara runs $2,986 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,496 a month from 2006–10, a 100% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 25.8% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 southeast; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Santa Clara
Bachelor's degrees in Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.1% | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 54.4% | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.8% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 66.4% | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +17.4 pts | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Santa Clara is highly educated: about two-thirds of adults 25 and older (66.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 17.4 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Santa Clara is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points, as it has nationally.
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 Santa Clara
| Period | Santa Clara | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Santa Clara is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.5 points, 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).
Santa Clara 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara | 2.57 | 36.3 | 5.1% | 58.4% | 6.7% | 1977 | $2,986 | 66.4% | 93.4% | 4.9% |
| Sunnyvale | 2.60 | 37.6 | 6.5% | 56.1% | 5.6% | 1977 | $3,105 | 69.6% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Cupertino | 2.80 | 42.2 | 4.5% | 40.7% | 6.4% | 1974 | $3,364 | 81.8% | 97.1% | 4.1% |
| Alviso | 2.95 | 47.6 | 3.8% | 26.8% | 6.8% | 1999 | $2,104 | 38.5% | 78.2% | 5.3% |
| Campbell | 2.60 | 40.5 | 10.7% | 48.5% | 7.0% | 1973 | $2,855 | 60.0% | 93.7% | 5.1% |
| San Jose area | 2.96 | 39.4 | 9.0% | 44.5% | 6.4% | 1977 | $2,873 | 55.3% | 89.0% | 4.9% |
| Saratoga | 2.84 | 51.3 | 2.4% | 14.4% | 6.5% | 1968 | $3,369 | 80.7% | 97.1% | 3.8% |
| Milpitas | 3.09 | 38.6 | 7.9% | 43.3% | 4.8% | 1988 | $3,083 | 60.7% | 90.0% | 3.8% |
| Mountain View | 2.42 | 36.8 | 6.4% | 62.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $3,009 | 74.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Los Altos | 2.79 | 46.7 | 4.5% | 21.9% | 8.1% | 1967 | $3,499 | 86.7% | 98.7% | 4.8% |
| Alum Rock | 3.90 | 39.5 | 14.5% | 40.4% | 6.8% | 1959 | $2,543 | 23.5% | 68.8% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Amarillo, TX · Ames, IA · Auburn, WA · Allentown, PA · Augusta, GA · Arden-Arcade, CA · Ann Arbor, MI · Austin, TX · Atlanta, GA · Aurora, IL
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 Santa Clara. 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.