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CITY

San Luis Obispo

California · 50,636 residents (2025 est.) · 13.5 sq mi
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Part of the San Luis Obispo metro area
The short version

San Luis Obispo is a city of 48,491 people in California. This skews young, with a median age of 26.3. The typical home is worth $935,100, having more than tripled since 2000. 40% of homes are owner-occupied. This is an unusually credentialed place: 54% of adults have a four-year degree. 67% were living in the same home a year earlier.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $73,685, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
54% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 103%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about San Luis Obispo

Among the 29 cities and towns in the San Luis Obispo metro

  • 21st in household income$73,685
  • 6th in share with a bachelor's degree54.4%
  • 8th in home value$935,100
  • 12th in diversity score60.2

Its weight in San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo's population equals 17% of San Luis Obispo County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 41% of the county's. Its number of veterans equals 9.3% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,491
+10%since 2000
from 44,174 in 2000
50,636 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,600 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 3,280 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
26.3
Unchangedsince 2000
from 26.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
13.5 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K43K45K47K49K19902000201020202024San Luis Obispo
202448K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.9%(1,405)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.9%(1,419)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.7%(1,304)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(3,597)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2431.7%(15,385)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413%(6,295)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449%(4,385)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 547.4%(3,565)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.1%(3,926)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.1%(3,924)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(2,201)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(1,085)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,685
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,926 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$48,106
+136%since 2000
from $20,386 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.5%
+25.1 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
30.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.532
+5%since 2010
from 0.509 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$935,100
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $252,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,965
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $724 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
40.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 41.9% in 2000
59.7% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.31 people
+7%since 2009
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
27.3%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
64.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
12.7
−20%since 2009
from 15.8 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
66
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.7%(34,756)
Black1.3%(594)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(5,147)
Asian5.2%(2,286)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.1%(33,516)
Black1.2%(576)
Hispanic / Latino18.4%(8,929)
Asian5.3%(2,559)
Other6%(2,911)
Diversity Score
60
+21%since 2009
from 50 in 2009
1990 – 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
Mexican14%(6,808)
Spaniard0.8%(370)
Salvadoran0.5%(260)
Guatemalan0.4%(196)
Cuban0.2%(114)
Puerto Rican0.2%(111)
Colombian0.2%(111)
Peruvian0.2%(100)
Nicaraguan0.2%(78)
Honduran0.1%(39)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Costa Rican0.1%(38)
Chilean0.1%(38)
Argentine0.1%(28)
Ecuadorian0.1%(28)
Uruguayan0%(11)
Asian origin
Chinese2%(959)
Filipino0.8%(396)
Vietnamese0.7%(360)
Asian Indian0.7%(353)
Korean0.5%(249)
Japanese0.3%(130)
Thai0.1%(27)
Laotian0.1%(26)
Taiwanese0%(24)
Burmese0%(12)
Uzbek0%(9)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(58)
Fijian0%(7)
Ancestry
English13.8%(6,716)
German13.8%(6,700)
Irish13.5%(6,532)
Italian7.6%(3,683)
Scottish2.8%(1,340)
French2.5%(1,229)
Norwegian2.2%(1,072)
Polish2.2%(1,065)
Swedish2.1%(1,023)
Dutch1.6%(788)
American1.4%(682)
British1.4%(679)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese1.3%(622)
Arab1%(502)
Russian1%(468)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(457)
Danish0.9%(448)
Welsh0.9%(427)
Swiss0.8%(393)
Greek0.7%(333)
Iranian0.5%(260)
Hungarian0.5%(220)
Ukrainian0.4%(216)
Finnish0.3%(134)
Palestinian0.3%(133)
Lebanese0.3%(126)
Romanian0.2%(111)
Czech0.2%(98)
West Indian0.2%(94)
Armenian0.2%(89)
Croatian0.2%(85)
Austrian0.2%(84)
Egyptian0.2%(83)
Brazilian0.2%(82)
Syrian0.2%(80)
Turkish0.2%(79)
Canadian0.1%(69)
Jamaican0.1%(68)
Bulgarian0.1%(61)
Lithuanian0.1%(55)
Slovak0.1%(49)
Nigerian0.1%(48)
Australian0.1%(47)
Serbian0.1%(47)
Moroccan0.1%(33)
Belgian0%(22)
Slovene0%(15)
Ghanaian0%(11)
Israeli0%(7)
Haitian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
54.4%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 40.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 91.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
24.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+49%since 2000
from 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
63.8%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 71.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.1%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
4.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 60.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
75.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 76.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
18.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
49.9%
+13.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 8.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2017
from 88.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 95.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
67.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 66.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
82.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 82.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 11.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married61.4%(13,192)
Married31.7%(6,815)
Widowed1.9%(411)
Divorced5%(1,074)
Women 15+
Never married56.3%(12,876)
Married29.4%(6,726)
Widowed5.3%(1,217)
Divorced9%(2,052)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.6%
−6.9 ptssince 2013
from 11.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
62.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 65.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2020
from 19.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 13.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
79.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 80.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
27.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 24.8% 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)14.4%(195)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)10%(135)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era46.5%(631)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War13.8%(187)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.7%(37)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,356 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

San Luis Obispo, decade by decade

San Luis Obispo population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199041,958$62,359$575,77734.9%36.4
200044,174$58,158$460,69740.9%45.4
201045,119$58,711$846,45545.0%50.0
202047,063$70,960$802,73350.0%62.9
202448,491$73,685$935,10054.4%60.2

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare San Luis Obispo to nearby cities

SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Los Osos
Income$108,932+48%
Home value$805,800−14%
Population14,166−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Grover Beach
Income$86,458+17%
Home value$727,500−22%
Population12,456−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Arroyo Grande
Income$102,553+39%
Home value$814,200−13%
Population18,123−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Morro Bay
Income$95,843+30%
Home value$918,200−2%
Population10,613−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Luis Obispo, California?

San Luis Obispo, California has about 48,491 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in San Luis Obispo, California?

The typical household in San Luis Obispo, California earns about $73,685 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Luis Obispo, California expensive?

In San Luis Obispo, California, the median home is worth about $935,100, and the typical rent is about $1,965 a month.

How educated are people in San Luis Obispo, California?

About 54.4% of adults age 25 and over in San Luis Obispo, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Luis Obispo, California?

About 30.4% of people in San Luis Obispo, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has San Luis Obispo, California grown since 1990?

Yes, San Luis Obispo, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,533 residents, a change of about 16 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 →

San Luis Obispo, California: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy