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CITY · 2010 ACS

San Luis Obispo

California · 45,119 residents · 13.469 sq mi
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The short version

San Luis Obispo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,812. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $588,400. At a median age of 26.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 26.5
US median: 37.2
More educated
45% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
45,119
+2%since 2000
from 44,174 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,350 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 3,280 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
26.5
+1%since 2000
from 26.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K43K45K47K49K1990201020202024San Luis Obispo
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,812
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,926 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,204
+29%since 2000
from $20,386 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
27.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
31.3%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 26.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.509
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14.1%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services5.7%
US avg: 7%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 3.1%
Professional, scientific, technical1.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$588,400
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $252,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,153
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $724 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
26.0%
−15.9 ptssince 2000
from 41.9% in 2000
60.7% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
35.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
66.7%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 70.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
14.4
+82%since 2000
from 7.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic75.8%(34,193)
Black1%(449)
Hispanic / Latino14.7%(6,626)
Asian5.1%(2,284)
Other3.3%(1,499)
Diversity Score49.8%(22,477)
Diversity Score
50
+24%since 2000
from 40 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 40.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 91.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
18.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.7 min
+36%since 2000
from 10.8 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
71.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 71.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
8.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
6.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
38.9%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 66.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Female
47.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Foreign born
9.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.8%
−46.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Compare San Luis Obispo to nearby cities

SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Los Osos
Income$108,932+167%
Home value$805,800+37%
Population14,166−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Grover Beach
Income$86,458+112%
Home value$727,500+24%
Population12,456−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Arroyo Grande
Income$102,553+151%
Home value$814,200+38%
Population18,123−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Morro Bay
Income$95,843+135%
Home value$918,200+56%
Population10,613−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Luis Obispo, California?

San Luis Obispo, California has about 45,119 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in San Luis Obispo, California earns about $40,812 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 $588,400, and the typical rent is about $1,153 a month.

How educated are people in San Luis Obispo, California?

About 45.0% 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 31.3% 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 3,161 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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

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