United States › California › Watsonville CITY
Watsonville California · 50,716 residents (2025 est.) · 6.79 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 51,712 people, Watsonville is a city in California. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 35% of residents were born outside the United States. Owners hold 45% of the housing stock. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $686,000. There are 7,620 people per square mile.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 82%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 44,265 in 2000
50,716 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
7,620 / sq mi
+5%since 2009
from 7,282 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 27.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
29K 36K 42K 49K 56K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watsonville Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $78,393
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,617 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,205 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.407 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 13.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing 3.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Education & health services 1.1%
Public administration 1.1%
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$686,000
+82%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $207,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,889
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $742 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 48.1% in 2000
55.2% rent
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 3.60 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 10.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 19.4%(8,574)
Hispanic / Latino 75.1%(33,254)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 12.7%(6,545)
Hispanic / Latino 82.3%(42,560)
from 46 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 49.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 70.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 23.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 24.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 71.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 42.8%(8,545)
Women 15+
Never married 38.4%(7,558)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 23.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 42.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 51.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 49.8% 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) 25.8%(201)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.6%(114)
Share of the 780 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.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Watsonville, California? Watsonville, California has about 51,712 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watsonville, California? The typical household in Watsonville, California earns about $78,393 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watsonville, California expensive? In Watsonville, California, the median home is worth about $686,000, and the typical rent is about $1,889 a month.
How educated are people in Watsonville, California? About 12.4% of adults age 25 and over in Watsonville, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watsonville, California? About 14.7% of people in Watsonville, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watsonville, California grown since 1990? Yes, Watsonville, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 20,613 residents, a change of about 66 percent over that period.
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