Population 20,632 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Valley Center
Household size in Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.99 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.08 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.25 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.24 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.25 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Valley Center is a place of big households: 3.24 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.99, even as the national average fell.
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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.9 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.1 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Valley Center skews older than the country: its median age is 43.6, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 42.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the northwest.
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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Valley Center (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Valley Center
Renters in Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Valley Center is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 11.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (36.4%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, 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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Valley Center is close to the national rate: 9.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Diego area overall (7.1%). Vacancy is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, 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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Valley Center is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1988, against 1980 nationally. Compared with other California cities, Valley Center has newer homes than most.
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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,192 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,175 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,516 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,172 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$980 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Valley Center runs $2,172 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the wider San Diego area ($2,468). Rents are up $980 a month from 2006–10, an 82% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 38.0% of the typical renter's income, 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 Valley Center
Bachelor's degrees in Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.6% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Valley Center (32.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the San Diego area as a whole (42.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.2 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.6% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.8% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.1% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Valley Center have finished high school as nationally: 88.1%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national rate rose.
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 Valley Center
| Period | Valley Center | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Valley Center runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 2.7 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).
Valley Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center | 3.24 | 43.6 | 8.8% | 11.6% | 9.3% | 1988 | $2,172 | 32.9% | 88.1% | 4.0% |
| Pauma Valley | 2.86 | 46.5 | 8.5% | 15.1% | 14.2% | 1989 | $1,582 | 39.8% | 90.1% | 5.7% |
| Escondido | 2.99 | 39.4 | 11.8% | 40.9% | 4.8% | 1982 | $2,385 | 31.7% | 82.0% | 4.8% |
| Pala | 3.16 | 39.0 | 16.2% | 14.5% | 6.8% | 1990 | $1,611 | 26.1% | 83.9% | 4.1% |
| Bonsall | 2.64 | 48.4 | 10.5% | 25.6% | 5.4% | 1992 | $2,392 | 45.9% | 90.3% | 5.0% |
| Palomar Mountain | 2.56 | 60.6 | 8.2% | 14.5% | 19.9% | 1980 | $1,238 | 21.2% | 83.8% | 2.5% |
| San Marcos | 3.00 | 39.6 | 10.6% | 34.9% | 5.7% | 1993 | $2,500 | 43.5% | 87.6% | 4.7% |
| Rainbow | 3.10 | 34.8 | 14.9% | 15.9% | 4.4% | 2008 | $2,387 | 47.1% | 90.5% | 4.7% |
| Vista | 3.10 | 37.2 | 13.7% | 44.7% | 5.3% | 1982 | $2,368 | 28.5% | 82.1% | 6.8% |
| Fallbrook | 3.10 | 40.2 | 11.2% | 30.5% | 7.5% | 1985 | $2,355 | 32.2% | 85.7% | 5.6% |
| Sunny Vista | 2.78 | 40.2 | 10.3% | 34.6% | 6.1% | 1996 | $3,241 | 61.1% | 94.8% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sharpsburg, GA · Gloversville, NY · Godfrey, IL · Grain Valley, MO · Grand Island, NY · Greenfield, CA · Groton, CT · Guilford, CT · Sayreville, NJ · Seabrook, MD
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 Valley Center. 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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