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CITY

Watsonville

California · 50,716 residents (2025 est.) · 6.786 sq mi
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Part of the Santa Cruz metro area
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Notable rankings
#227Most densely populatedof 4,8917,474
The short version

Watsonville has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,393. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $686,000. At a median age of 33.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

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

Total population
51,712
+17%since 2000
from 44,265 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
7,620 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 6,523 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.8
+23%since 2000
from 27.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:50,716 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
29K36K42K49K56K1990201020202024Watsonville
202452K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,393
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,617 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,021
+112%since 2000
from $13,205 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.5%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+5%since 2010
from 0.407 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction13.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Information10%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$686,000
+82%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $207,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,889
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $742 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
44.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 48.1% in 2000
55.2% rent
Vacancy rate
4.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
34.3%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.1%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.8
+59%since 2000
from 5.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watsonville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic19.4%(8,574)
Black0.5%(206)
Hispanic / Latino75.1%(33,254)
Asian3.1%(1,358)
Other0%
Diversity Score46.6%(20,619)
2024
White, non-Hispanic12.7%(6,545)
Black0.4%(212)
Hispanic / Latino82.3%(42,560)
Asian2.5%(1,273)
Other2.2%(1,122)
Diversity Score38.2%(19,749)
Diversity Score
38
−18%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
65.2%
+16.1 ptssince 2000
from 49.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+58%since 2000
from 16.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 70.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.0%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 66.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
21.7%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
50.2%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
35.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.1%
−48.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−67.6 ptssince 2013
from 76.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+17.7 ptssince 2017
from 71.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
25.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 24.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
71.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 71.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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

How we source and harmonize this data →