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CITY

Rio del Mar

California · 9,201 residents · 3 sq mi
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Part of the Santa Cruz metro area
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Notable rankings
#105Highest median rentof 6,764$3,407#121Most expensive homesof 6,786$1,338,100#215Lowest poverty rateof 6,8232.3%#278Oldest by median ageof 6,82651.4
The short version

Rio del Mar is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $159,929. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $1,338,100. With a median age of 51.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
65% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,201
Unchangedsince 2000
from 9,198 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
3,067 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 3,201 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
51.4
+16%since 2000
from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K9K10K10K1990201020202024Rio del Mar
20249K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.4%(312)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(440)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(564)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 193.8%(347)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(593)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 344.4%(405)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.7%(984)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5417.6%(1,623)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417.2%(1,581)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.4%(1,235)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.8%(806)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(311)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$159,929
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,282 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$91,703
+135%since 2000
from $39,034 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
78.5%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 60.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+8%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing4.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,338,100
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$3,407
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,375 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
24.8% rent
Vacancy rate
21.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
37.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.4
−7%since 2009
from 9.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
73
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rio del Mar on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.9%(8,081)
Black0.6%(53)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(594)
Asian2.5%(233)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.4%(7,310)
Black0.1%(10)
Hispanic / Latino11.1%(1,018)
Asian3.2%(292)
Other6.2%(571)
Diversity Score
44
+25%since 2009
from 35 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4%(366)
Colombian0.8%(75)
Spaniard0.6%(58)
Cuban0.4%(37)
Guatemalan0.4%(37)
Peruvian0.4%(33)
Salvadoran0.3%(28)
Panamanian0.3%(27)
Ecuadorian0.2%(20)
Venezuelan0.1%(11)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(10)
Uruguayan0.1%(7)
Asian origin
Chinese1.3%(118)
Asian Indian0.7%(69)
Filipino0.5%(49)
Japanese0.4%(35)
Vietnamese0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English17.7%(1,627)
Irish16.8%(1,542)
German15.8%(1,455)
Italian7.6%(700)
French4.7%(428)
Scottish4.2%(386)
Polish3.9%(359)
Dutch3.6%(334)
Norwegian2.6%(239)
Russian2.2%(206)
American1.9%(171)
Danish1.8%(169)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish1.6%(151)
Swiss1.5%(137)
Arab1.5%(136)
Swedish1.4%(130)
British1.2%(115)
Welsh1.2%(113)
Portuguese1.1%(105)
Canadian1%(93)
Palestinian0.9%(85)
Serbian0.7%(69)
Croatian0.7%(62)
Czech0.5%(49)
Lithuanian0.4%(40)
West Indian0.4%(36)
Hungarian0.4%(33)
Macedonian0.4%(33)
Finnish0.3%(32)
Austrian0.3%(31)
Ukrainian0.3%(27)
Jamaican0.3%(27)
Brazilian0.3%(24)
Greek0.2%(23)
Egyptian0.1%(12)
Romanian0.1%(12)
Slovak0.1%(8)
Armenian0.1%(5)
Belgian0%(4)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
65.2%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 54.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 96.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
32.7%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 20.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.0 min
+28%since 2000
from 23.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
60.9%
−17.7 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
30.2%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2011
from 59.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
58.0%
−16.0 ptssince 2009
from 74.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.1%
−44.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.7%
+6.1 ptssince 2012
from 8.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.9%
−92.7 ptssince 2013
from 94.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2017
from 91.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 89.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.1%(1,073)
Married62.8%(2,404)
Widowed1.6%(63)
Divorced7.5%(285)
Women 15+
Never married16.4%(665)
Married55.2%(2,243)
Widowed8.9%(360)
Divorced19.5%(792)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rio del Mar, California?

Rio del Mar, California has about 9,201 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rio del Mar, California?

The typical household in Rio del Mar, California earns about $159,929 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rio del Mar, California expensive?

In Rio del Mar, California, the median home is worth about $1,338,100, and the typical rent is about $3,407 a month.

How educated are people in Rio del Mar, California?

About 65.2% of adults age 25 and over in Rio del Mar, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rio del Mar, California?

About 2.3% of people in Rio del Mar, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rio del Mar, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Rio del Mar, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 282 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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

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