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CITY · INCORPORATED 1850

San Diego

California · 1,406,106 residents (2025 est.) · 326.087 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#8Largest by populationof 4,8961,406,106
The short version

San Diego is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $108,077. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $906,700. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 126%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,389,526
+14%since 2000
from 1,223,400 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,261 / sq mi
+7%since 2009
from 3,979 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
36.2
+11%since 2000
from 32.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,406,106 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1.1M1.2M1.3M1.3M1.4M1990201020202024San Diego
20241.4M
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.1%(70,389)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(71,365)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(72,195)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(86,080)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.6%(105,424)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.8%(260,873)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.7%(204,955)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(165,813)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.7%(149,300)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.4%(116,657)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(62,307)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(24,168)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$108,077
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,733 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$57,083
+142%since 2000
from $23,609 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
65.5%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.0%
−3.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.463
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.463 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$906,700
+126%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $220,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,313
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $763 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 49.5% in 2000
52.7% rent
Vacancy rate
6.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.7%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.4
−2%since 2009
from 8.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
71
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in San Diego on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.4%(603,892)
Black7.6%(92,830)
Hispanic / Latino25.4%(310,752)
Asian13.5%(164,895)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic40.9%(568,126)
Black5.3%(73,967)
Hispanic / Latino29.8%(414,040)
Asian17.3%(240,003)
Other6.7%(93,390)
Diversity Score
88
+6%since 2009
from 84 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
Mexican25%(347,362)
South American1.2%(17,009)
Puerto Rican0.8%(10,944)
Colombian0.5%(6,548)
Guatemalan0.4%(5,855)
Spaniard0.4%(5,849)
Salvadoran0.3%(4,264)
Cuban0.3%(3,666)
Peruvian0.2%(2,783)
Chilean0.2%(2,205)
Argentine0.2%(2,111)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Dominican0.1%(1,688)
Ecuadorian0.1%(1,334)
Nicaraguan0.1%(1,303)
Venezuelan0.1%(1,275)
Honduran0.1%(1,148)
Costa Rican0.1%(849)
Panamanian0.1%(771)
Bolivian0%(396)
Uruguayan0%(240)
Asian origin
Filipino5.2%(72,130)
Chinese3.3%(45,656)
Vietnamese2.4%(33,632)
Asian Indian2.4%(32,726)
Korean1.1%(14,832)
Japanese0.6%(8,975)
Cambodian0.4%(4,915)
Laotian0.3%(4,649)
Taiwanese0.3%(4,612)
Thai0.2%(2,303)
Pakistani0.1%(1,554)
Kazakh0.1%(1,476)
+ 13 more asian origin groups with data
Burmese0.1%(1,006)
Hmong0.1%(1,002)
Indonesian0%(540)
Nepalese0%(439)
Sri Lankan0%(327)
Malaysian0%(265)
Uzbek0%(200)
Mongolian0%(193)
Mien0%(92)
Bhutanese0%(41)
Pacific Islander origin
Native Hawaiian0.3%(3,821)
Chamorro0.2%(3,433)
Samoan0.2%(2,308)
Guamanian0.1%(852)
Fijian0%(586)
Tongan0%(500)
Ancestry
German8.8%(122,485)
Irish7.6%(105,833)
English7.5%(103,693)
Italian4.3%(59,605)
American2.3%(31,727)
Polish1.8%(25,373)
French1.8%(24,375)
Scottish1.5%(20,611)
Subsaharan African1.2%(16,197)
Russian1%(14,391)
Swedish1%(14,354)
Norwegian1%(14,105)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
Arab1%(13,809)
Dutch0.8%(10,726)
Iranian0.7%(10,188)
Portuguese0.7%(9,255)
British0.5%(7,410)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(7,158)
Ukrainian0.5%(6,632)
Welsh0.4%(6,197)
Greek0.4%(5,836)
West Indian0.4%(5,725)
Hungarian0.4%(5,489)
Danish0.4%(5,039)
French Canadian0.3%(4,155)
Brazilian0.3%(4,006)
Swiss0.3%(3,707)
Czech0.3%(3,594)
Lebanese0.3%(3,499)
Canadian0.2%(3,274)
Ethiopian0.2%(2,825)
Austrian0.2%(2,725)
Armenian0.2%(2,721)
Lithuanian0.2%(2,691)
Somali0.2%(2,585)
Jamaican0.2%(2,413)
Egyptian0.1%(2,039)
Finnish0.1%(1,962)
Romanian0.1%(1,950)
Haitian0.1%(1,864)
Israeli0.1%(1,780)
Turkish0.1%(1,739)
Iraqi0.1%(1,733)
Croatian0.1%(1,604)
Slovak0.1%(1,443)
Nigerian0.1%(1,443)
Syrian0.1%(1,418)
Serbian0.1%(1,399)
Palestinian0.1%(1,238)
Belgian0.1%(918)
Bulgarian0.1%(918)
Kenyan0%(688)
Australian0%(582)
Slovene0%(520)
Moroccan0%(502)
Latvian0%(332)
Jordanian0%(296)
Guyanese0%(278)
Macedonian0%(270)
Ghanaian0%(255)
Barbadian0%(178)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Filipino population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.0%
+16.0 ptssince 2000
from 35.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
21.7%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 13.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+63%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.6%
−13.3 ptssince 2009
from 75.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
21.2%
+15.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
53.6%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
25.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−42.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2012
from 8.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−77.6 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2017
from 87.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
61.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 59.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
21.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 23.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married44.8%(266,698)
Married46.3%(275,477)
Widowed1.7%(9,962)
Divorced7.2%(42,597)
Women 15+
Never married37.3%(216,942)
Married45.4%(263,827)
Widowed6.3%(36,596)
Divorced10.9%(63,478)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Explore

Neighborhoods in San Diego

Allied GardensBalboa ParkBarrio LoganBay HoBay ParkBay TerracesBlack Mountain RanchCarmel MountainCarmel ValleyCastleClairemont Mesa EastClairemont Mesa WestColina del SolCollege EastCollege WestCore-ColumbiaCorridorDel CerroEastEgger HighlandsEncantoGolden HillHillcrestJomacha-LomitaKensingtonLa JollaLake MurrayLincoln ParkLinda VistaLogan HeightsMarinaMidtownMidway DistrictMira MesaMiramar Ranch NorthMission Bay ParkMission HillsMission Valley EastMorenaMountain ViewNestorNormal HeightsNorth CityNorth ClairemontNorth ParkOak ParkOcean BeachOcean CrestOtay MesaOtay Mesa WestPacific BeachParadise HillsPark WestPoint Loma HeightsRancho BernardoRancho PenasquitosRoseville - Fleet RidgeSabre SpringsSan YsidroScripps RanchSerra MesaSorrento ValleySouthcrestTalmadgeTierrasantaTorrey PinesUniversity CityUniversity HeightsValencia ParkNeighborhoods in San Diego
Drill deeper

Places similar to San Diego

Austin
Pop 1,002,632
Phoenix
Pop 1,665,481
Washington
Pop 693,645
Dallas
Pop 1,329,491
Places similar to San Diego
Head to head

Compare San Diego to nearby cities

SAN DIEGO VS
La Mesa
Income$95,028−12%
Home value$812,000−10%
Population59,914−96%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Lemon Grove
Income$88,009−19%
Home value$705,400−22%
Population27,936−98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Santee
Income$113,394+5%
Home value$727,200−20%
Population58,205−96%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
El Cajon
Income$67,511−38%
Home value$681,700−25%
Population101,755−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Diego, California?

San Diego, California has about 1,389,526 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in San Diego, California?

The typical household in San Diego, California earns about $108,077 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Diego, California expensive?

In San Diego, California, the median home is worth about $906,700, and the typical rent is about $2,313 a month.

How educated are people in San Diego, California?

About 51.0% of adults age 25 and over in San Diego, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Diego, California?

About 11.0% of people in San Diego, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has San Diego, California grown since 1990?

Yes, San Diego, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 278,977 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

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

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