Population 12,708 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Solana Beach
Household size in Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Solana Beach is a place of small households, averaging 2.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center. Only 47 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.3 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.1 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.0 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.4 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.4, Solana Beach is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.3, as it has nationally. Only 44 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are older.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Solana Beach, well below the national share of 11.6%. Solana Beach has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
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 Solana Beach
Renters in Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.2% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.5% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.6% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in Solana Beach rent their homes (31.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the San Diego area overall (45.4%). Among homeowners, 40.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 9.4 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Solana Beach than nationally: 11.6%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.4 points, 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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Solana Beach are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1978, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,779 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,863 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,482 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,125 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,346 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Solana Beach pays $3,125 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,346 a month since 2006–10, up 76%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 44 have higher rents.
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 Solana Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.8% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.1% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.9% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 72.5% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.7 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Solana Beach is highly educated: just over seven in ten adults 25 and older (72.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 43 have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.5% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.5% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Solana Beach: 97.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 59 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Solana Beach
| Period | Solana Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.3 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Solana Beach has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 35 have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Solana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solana Beach | 2.28 | 50.4 | 6.2% | 31.9% | 11.6% | 1978 | $3,125 | 72.5% | 97.5% | 3.3% |
| Cardiff By The Sea | 2.56 | 42.6 | 4.6% | 38.5% | 12.0% | 1977 | $3,075 | 72.1% | 94.4% | 3.8% |
| Del Mar | 2.37 | 50.6 | 5.1% | 28.2% | 15.1% | 1975 | $3,227 | 84.3% | 98.5% | 4.1% |
| Rancho Santa Fe | 2.69 | 49.0 | 8.3% | 11.1% | 24.0% | 1986 | $3,462 | 74.3% | 98.5% | 5.6% |
| Encinitas | 2.59 | 45.6 | 7.7% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1982 | $2,941 | 67.3% | 96.0% | 4.5% |
| La Jolla | 2.21 | 38.6 | 5.0% | 40.8% | 10.1% | 1975 | $2,649 | 79.2% | 98.2% | 7.8% |
| Poway | 2.94 | 42.3 | 7.2% | 23.9% | 4.3% | 1980 | $2,738 | 54.3% | 94.3% | 5.2% |
| Santee | 2.81 | 40.5 | 7.8% | 27.7% | 4.2% | 1983 | $2,490 | 35.3% | 92.8% | 4.5% |
| Bostonia | 2.97 | 36.9 | 15.1% | 55.4% | 6.1% | 1975 | $2,300 | 22.8% | 88.8% | 8.4% |
| Lakeside | 3.04 | 39.7 | 12.3% | 31.2% | 5.6% | 1979 | $2,066 | 27.0% | 91.6% | 5.6% |
| Morena | 3.18 | 45.3 | 8.5% | 10.6% | 4.4% | 1987 | $1,630 | 22.5% | 87.6% | 7.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Two Rivers, WI · Evanston, WY · Fairview, TN · Fairview, TX · Falmouth, ME · Sweetwater, TX · Tarrytown, NY · Tega Cay, SC · The Pinery, CO · Tomah, WI
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 Solana 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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