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CITY

National City

California · 57,807 residents (2025 est.) · 7.348 sq mi
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Part of the San Diego metro area
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Notable rankings
#200Most densely populatedof 4,8917,867
The short version

National City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,841. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $612,200. Households here earn about 33% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 142%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
58,893
+9%since 2000
from 54,260 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
8,015 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 7,384 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.1
+26%since 2000
from 28.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:57,807 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
53K55K57K60K62K1990201020202024National City
202459K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,841
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,826 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,909
+167%since 2000
from $11,582 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.3%
+25.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 22.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+3%since 2010
from 0.431 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade9.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$612,200
+142%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $138,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,692
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $573 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
34.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 35.0% in 2000
65.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
33.0%
−18.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
9.2
+97%since 2000
from 4.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
65
RELATED:See current rent listings in National City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic14.1%(7,653)
Black5.2%(2,823)
Hispanic / Latino59.1%(32,053)
Asian18.2%(9,863)
Other0%
Diversity Score70.8%(38,391)
2024
White, non-Hispanic10.6%(6,229)
Black5.1%(2,981)
Hispanic / Latino63.5%(37,393)
Asian16.7%(9,862)
Other4.1%(2,428)
Diversity Score69.2%(40,737)
Diversity Score
69
−2%since 2000
from 71 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.1%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
77.6%
+20.4 ptssince 2000
from 57.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.4 min
+62%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.5%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.6%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.6%
+4.9 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.4%
−32.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
49.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
36.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
+5.2 ptssince 2012
from 8.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.2%
−57.3 ptssince 2013
from 69.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.8%
+15.6 ptssince 2017
from 72.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
34.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2016
from 29.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
51.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2016
from 53.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare National City to nearby cities

NATIONAL CITY VS
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Income$134,534+101%
Home value$2,000,001+227%
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NATIONAL CITY VS
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Home value$962,800+57%
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NATIONAL CITY VS
Chula Vista
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NATIONAL CITY VS
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Income$88,009+32%
Home value$705,400+15%
Population27,936−52%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in National City, California?

National City, California has about 58,893 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in National City, California?

The typical household in National City, California earns about $66,841 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is National City, California expensive?

In National City, California, the median home is worth about $612,200, and the typical rent is about $1,692 a month.

How educated are people in National City, California?

About 18.1% of adults age 25 and over in National City, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in National City, California?

About 14.6% of people in National City, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has National City, California grown since 1990?

Yes, National City, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,644 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →