Population 87 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Shell Beach
Household size in Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.31 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Shell Beach is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.53, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Shell Beach skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.0% of households in Shell Beach, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Shell Beach
Renters in Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 48.3% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +15.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Shell Beach than nationally: 44.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. That is in line with the rest of California. Nearly three in ten owners (28.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.0% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Shell Beach: 15.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2001 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +17 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Shell Beach is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2001, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,233 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,631 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,906 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,389 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,156 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Shell Beach pays $2,389 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 22.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Shell Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.5% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +31.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Shell Beach: 70.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.6% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.8% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Shell Beach: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Shell Beach
| Period | Shell Beach | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Shell Beach has been strong: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Shell Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Beach | 2.22 | 52.1 | 2.0% | 44.9% | 15.9% | 2001 | $2,389 | 70.6% | 98.9% | 2.6% |
| Pismo Beach | 2.02 | 53.1 | 6.1% | 35.4% | 29.9% | 1985 | $2,286 | 53.0% | 97.8% | 4.5% |
| Avila Beach | 2.25 | 56.4 | 1.4% | 25.7% | 27.3% | 2001 | $2,273 | 79.7% | 98.4% | 0.9% |
| Grover Beach | 2.53 | 42.1 | 20.1% | 49.6% | 18.0% | 1977 | $2,038 | 30.3% | 85.0% | 4.2% |
| Oceano | 2.33 | 45.3 | 10.7% | 41.1% | 12.2% | 1978 | $1,773 | 21.4% | 81.0% | 3.5% |
| San Luis Obispo | 2.42 | 32.3 | 4.6% | 57.2% | 9.6% | 1978 | $2,069 | 51.8% | 94.8% | 7.9% |
| Arroyo Grande | 2.49 | 47.4 | 5.9% | 32.3% | 8.3% | 1984 | $2,206 | 45.0% | 95.4% | 4.0% |
| Halcyon | 3.02 | 44.0 | 7.7% | 29.2% | 23.7% | 1989 | $2,610 | 51.2% | 89.8% | 5.2% |
| Los Berros | 2.68 | 52.1 | 14.4% | 14.7% | 21.7% | 1985 | $2,243 | 39.0% | 96.7% | 3.7% |
| Nipomo | 2.89 | 44.4 | 9.9% | 31.0% | 9.4% | 1994 | $2,120 | 30.2% | 87.3% | 2.7% |
| Huasna | 3.12 | 45.6 | 16.0% | 10.1% | 25.8% | 1981 | $2,494 | 43.1% | 96.0% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: White Horse Beach, MA · Colemansville, KY · Comobabi, AZ · Cone, TX · Conesus Lake, NY · Conesville, NY · Connett, OH · Cooke City, MT · Coon, LA · Coontown, PA
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 Shell Beach. 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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