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CITY

Solana Beach

California · 12,602 residents (2025 est.) · 3.414 sq mi
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Part of the San Diego metro area
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Notable rankings
#34Most expensive homesof 6,786$2,000,001#139Highest median rentof 6,764$3,212#289Most educatedof 6,82672.3%#322Most work-from-homeof 6,82630.9%
The short version

Solana Beach is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $152,167. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 72% 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 $2,000,001. With a median age of 50.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 50.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
72% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 144%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,823
−1%since 2000
from 12,979 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,756 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 3,727 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
50.1
+20%since 2000
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,602 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K13K13K13K1990201020202024Solana Beach
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.9%(501)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(698)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(730)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.4%(692)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.1%(525)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347%(900)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(1,516)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.3%(1,836)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.7%(2,007)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7415.1%(1,935)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849%(1,155)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(328)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$152,167
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,774 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$99,142
+104%since 2000
from $48,547 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
72.7%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.498
+5%since 2010
from 0.473 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services9.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food3.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$2,000,001
+144%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $450,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$3,212
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,112 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.7%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 62.8% in 2000
32.3% rent
Vacancy rate
14.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
40.6%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
13.1
+22%since 2009
from 10.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
78
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Solana Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic79%(10,250)
Black0.5%(62)
Hispanic / Latino14.8%(1,922)
Asian3.3%(430)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.1%(9,246)
Black0.9%(112)
Hispanic / Latino14%(1,793)
Asian5%(639)
Other8.1%(1,033)
Diversity Score
56
+20%since 2009
from 47 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
Mexican10.1%(1,301)
Puerto Rican0.7%(89)
Spaniard0.6%(76)
Peruvian0.6%(71)
Salvadoran0.4%(53)
Cuban0.3%(43)
Guatemalan0.2%(24)
Panamanian0.2%(24)
Costa Rican0.2%(23)
Uruguayan0.1%(11)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Dominican0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.8%(98)
Korean0.7%(86)
Chinese0.6%(71)
Vietnamese0.5%(59)
Filipino0.4%(57)
Japanese0.4%(45)
Indonesian0.3%(33)
Taiwanese0.2%(30)
Cambodian0.2%(22)
Thai0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Irish17.9%(2,292)
English16.3%(2,087)
German14.6%(1,878)
Italian4.9%(627)
Scottish3.5%(452)
Norwegian2.7%(352)
Russian2.6%(329)
Polish2.6%(328)
French2.2%(279)
American1.5%(198)
Swedish1.5%(198)
Dutch1.3%(171)
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh1.1%(145)
British1.1%(135)
Danish0.9%(119)
Ukrainian0.7%(84)
Finnish0.6%(82)
Greek0.6%(78)
Austrian0.6%(75)
Arab0.6%(74)
Iranian0.5%(65)
Swiss0.5%(64)
Belgian0.4%(49)
Egyptian0.3%(44)
Croatian0.3%(43)
Czech0.3%(42)
Lithuanian0.3%(42)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(32)
Canadian0.2%(28)
Hungarian0.2%(23)
Portuguese0.2%(23)
Syrian0.2%(22)
Brazilian0.2%(20)
Romanian0.1%(19)
Armenian0.1%(18)
Serbian0.1%(18)
Israeli0.1%(15)
Ghanaian0.1%(13)
West Indian0.1%(11)
Australian0.1%(9)
Latvian0.1%(9)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
72.3%
+14.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 92.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
29.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 25.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+42%since 2000
from 14.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
58.4%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
30.9%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
65.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2009
from 73.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
Foreign born
10.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−42.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 6.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.1%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2017
from 93.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 82.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 10.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.2%(1,603)
Married58.7%(3,120)
Widowed1%(55)
Divorced10.1%(535)
Women 15+
Never married19.5%(1,089)
Married57.3%(3,198)
Widowed10.6%(591)
Divorced12.6%(703)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Solana Beach to nearby cities

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SOLANA BEACH VS
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SOLANA BEACH VS
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SOLANA BEACH VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Solana Beach, California?

Solana Beach, California has about 12,823 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Solana Beach, California?

The typical household in Solana Beach, California earns about $152,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Solana Beach, California expensive?

In Solana Beach, California, the median home is worth about $2,000,001, and the typical rent is about $3,212 a month.

How educated are people in Solana Beach, California?

About 72.3% of adults age 25 and over in Solana Beach, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Solana Beach, California?

About 5.5% of people in Solana Beach, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Solana Beach, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Solana Beach, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 139 residents, a change of about -1 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 →

Solana Beach, California: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy