United States › California › Morro Bay CITY
Morro Bay California · 10,613 residents (2025 est.) · 5.34 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 10,692 people, Morro Bay is a city in California. The median age is 54.3, about 15 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $918,200, having more than tripled since 2000. Few US cities rank higher on income. This is an unusually credentialed place: 48% of adults have a four-year degree. Density works out to 2,003 people per square mile.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 54.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 118%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 10,350 in 2000
10,613 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,003 / sq mi
+4%since 2009
from 1,930 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 45.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K 10K 10K 11K 11K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Morro Bay Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $95,843
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,379 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $21,687 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Public administration 2.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.1%
Education & health services 0%
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$918,200
+118%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $231,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,858
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $697 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 55.6% in 2000
34.6% rent
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 1.93 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 12.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 83.4%(8,630)
Hispanic / Latino 11.4%(1,183)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 77.7%(8,305)
Hispanic / Latino 13.5%(1,443)
from 35 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data from 27.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 90.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 59.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 80.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 85.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 9.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 21.4%(1,036)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 57.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 21.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 31.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 78.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 41.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 12%(120)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.9%(109)
Share of the 996 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Morro Bay Head to head
Compare Morro Bay to nearby cities MORRO BAY VS
Los Osos
Income $108,932 +14%
Home value $805,800 −12%
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MORRO BAY VS
Atascadero
Income $91,429 −5%
Home value $716,500 −22%
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MORRO BAY VS
San Luis Obispo
Income $73,685 −23%
Home value $935,100 +2%
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MORRO BAY VS
Templeton
Income $117,063 +22%
Home value $810,400 −12%
Population 9,580 −10%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Morro Bay, California? Morro Bay, California has about 10,692 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Morro Bay, California? The typical household in Morro Bay, California earns about $95,843 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Morro Bay, California expensive? In Morro Bay, California, the median home is worth about $918,200, and the typical rent is about $1,858 a month.
How educated are people in Morro Bay, California? About 48.5% of adults age 25 and over in Morro Bay, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Morro Bay, California? About 8.4% of people in Morro Bay, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Morro Bay, California grown since 1990? Yes, Morro Bay, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 890 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.
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