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CITY

San Luis Obispo

California · 50,636 residents (2025 est.) · 13.469 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#191Youngest by median ageof 6,82626.3#327Most expensive homesof 6,786$935,100
The short version

San Luis Obispo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,685. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 54% 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 $935,100. At a median age of 26.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 26% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,491
+10%since 2000
from 44,174 in 2000
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

PEP 2025 EST:50,636 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
41K43K45K47K49K1990201020202024San Luis Obispo
202448K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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%
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
+60%since 2000
from 7.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
66
RELATED:See current rent listings in San Luis Obispo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.7%(34,756)
Black1.3%(594)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(5,147)
Asian5.2%(2,286)
Other0%
Diversity Score40.3%(17,809)
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.1%(33,516)
Black1.2%(576)
Hispanic / Latino18.4%(8,929)
Asian5.3%(2,559)
Other6%(2,911)
Diversity Score60.2%(29,206)
Diversity Score
60
+49%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Self-employed
18.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
49.9%
−16.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.2% 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%
−49.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% 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%
−83.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2017
from 88.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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%
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Compare San Luis Obispo to nearby cities

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Los Osos
Income$108,932+48%
Home value$805,800−14%
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SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
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Income$86,458+17%
Home value$727,500−22%
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SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
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Income$102,553+39%
Home value$814,200−13%
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SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
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Income$95,843+30%
Home value$918,200−2%
Population10,613−79%
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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

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