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CITY

Valley Center

California · 11,119 residents · 27.445 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#290Highest homeownership rateof 6,82392.6%
The short version

Valley Center is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $132,361. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 52% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $883,700. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income. Households here earn about 34% more than the California median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,119
+52%since 2000
from 7,323 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
405 / sq mi
+52%since 2000
from 267 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.1
+8%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7444K7K9K12K1990201020202024Valley Center
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$132,361
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,649 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$52,880
+120%since 2000
from $24,071 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
73.1%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
+20%since 2010
from 0.355 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$883,700
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $281,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,750
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $868 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
92.6%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.6% in 2000
7.4% rent
Vacancy rate
11.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
42.3%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
14.8%
−16.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.7
+53%since 2000
from 4.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in Valley Center on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.3%(5,664)
Black0.5%(37)
Hispanic / Latino16.5%(1,206)
Asian1.3%(96)
Other0%
Diversity Score39.5%(2,892)
2024
White, non-Hispanic50%(5,555)
Black3.9%(434)
Hispanic / Latino33.1%(3,679)
Asian6.9%(771)
Other6.1%(680)
Diversity Score78.9%(8,768)
Diversity Score
79
+100%since 2000
from 39 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.4%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 26.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
37.6 min
+53%since 2000
from 24.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.2%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.1%
+10.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 65.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.5%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
22.1%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.7%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−67.5 ptssince 2013
from 75.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.2%
+11.8 ptssince 2017
from 83.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
71.6%
−6.7 ptssince 2016
from 78.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
21.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2016
from 19.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Valley Center

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Pop 11,669
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Pop 13,245
Gateway
Pop 11,176
Places similar to Valley Center
Head to head

Compare Valley Center to nearby cities

VALLEY CENTER VS
Escondido
Income$91,967−31%
Home value$714,500−19%
Population146,030+1213%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY CENTER VS
San Marcos
Income$109,377−17%
Home value$868,000−2%
Population94,908+754%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY CENTER VS
Vista
Income$94,975−28%
Home value$762,400−14%
Population98,274+784%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VALLEY CENTER VS
Ramona
Income$107,427−19%
Home value$766,400−13%
Population22,634+104%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Valley Center, California?

Valley Center, California has about 11,119 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Valley Center, California?

The typical household in Valley Center, California earns about $132,361 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Valley Center, California expensive?

In Valley Center, California, the median home is worth about $883,700, and the typical rent is about $1,750 a month.

How educated are people in Valley Center, California?

About 38.4% of adults age 25 and over in Valley Center, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Valley Center, California?

About 6.7% of people in Valley Center, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Valley Center, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Valley Center, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,403 residents, a change of about 548 percent over that period.

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

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