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COUNTY

San Diego County

California · 3,282,248 residents (2025 est.) · 4,210.46 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#5Largest by populationof 3,1443,282,248#15Highest median rentof 3,137$2,246#24Most expensive homesof 3,139$854,700#85Most foreign-born residentsof 3,14422.8%
The short version

San Diego County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $106,268. Population has grown 17% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $854,700. It ranks in the top 1% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 121%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,288,774
+17%since 2000
from 2,813,833 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
781 / sq mi
+10%since 2009
from 710 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
37.3
+12%since 2000
from 33.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,282,248 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2.4M2.7M2.9M3.2M3.4M1990201020202024San Diego County
20243.3M
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(183,613)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(186,786)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(199,717)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(208,240)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247%(229,033)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415.9%(522,544)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.3%(471,054)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.1%(396,336)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.7%(383,717)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.1%(297,980)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.6%(149,924)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(59,830)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$106,268
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,067 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,976
+127%since 2000
from $22,926 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
64.6%
+22.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.458
+1%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$854,700
+121%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $212,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,246
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $761 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
54.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 55.4% in 2000
45.4% rent
Vacancy rate
6.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.9%
−11.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.0
−2%since 2009
from 8.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
76
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in San Diego County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55%(1,548,833)
Black5.5%(154,487)
Hispanic / Latino26.7%(750,965)
Asian8.7%(245,297)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic42.4%(1,394,708)
Black4.4%(143,223)
Hispanic / Latino34.6%(1,139,063)
Asian12.1%(397,310)
Other6.5%(214,470)
Diversity Score
85
+8%since 2009
from 79 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
39
−6%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican29.7%(975,588)
Central American1.2%(39,448)
South American1%(33,735)
Puerto Rican0.8%(26,187)
Guatemalan0.6%(18,300)
Spaniard0.4%(14,413)
Colombian0.3%(11,484)
Salvadoran0.3%(10,718)
Cuban0.2%(7,915)
Peruvian0.2%(6,927)
Dominican0.1%(4,125)
Argentine0.1%(3,875)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Chilean0.1%(3,708)
Ecuadorian0.1%(3,212)
Nicaraguan0.1%(2,866)
Honduran0.1%(2,686)
Venezuelan0.1%(2,560)
Panamanian0.1%(2,477)
Costa Rican0.1%(1,978)
Bolivian0%(1,007)
Uruguayan0%(514)
Paraguayan0%(145)
Asian origin
Filipino4.6%(150,280)
Chinese2%(64,366)
Asian Indian1.5%(47,693)
Vietnamese1.4%(47,640)
Korean0.7%(21,721)
Japanese0.5%(17,115)
Cambodian0.2%(6,900)
Laotian0.2%(6,796)
Taiwanese0.2%(6,175)
Kazakh0.1%(4,171)
Thai0.1%(3,594)
Pakistani0.1%(2,351)
+ 13 more asian origin groups with data
Hmong0.1%(1,764)
Indonesian0.1%(1,652)
Burmese0%(1,370)
Nepalese0%(722)
Sri Lankan0%(424)
Malaysian0%(404)
Mongolian0%(323)
Uzbek0%(265)
Mien0%(164)
Okinawan0%(66)
Bhutanese0%(41)
Pacific Islander origin
Native Hawaiian0.3%(9,903)
Chamorro0.2%(7,855)
Samoan0.2%(6,833)
Guamanian0%(1,559)
Tongan0%(1,101)
Fijian0%(770)
Chuukese0%(152)
Ancestry
German9.1%(298,305)
English8%(262,576)
Irish7.8%(255,722)
Italian4.2%(137,798)
American2.5%(81,666)
French1.8%(58,643)
Polish1.6%(53,920)
Scottish1.6%(51,677)
Arab1.4%(44,429)
Norwegian1.1%(37,669)
Swedish1.1%(36,039)
Subsaharan African0.9%(30,641)
+ 51 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.9%(28,604)
Dutch0.8%(27,141)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(18,987)
Portuguese0.6%(18,138)
Iranian0.5%(17,138)
Iraqi0.5%(16,369)
British0.5%(15,597)
Welsh0.4%(14,465)
Danish0.4%(13,543)
Greek0.4%(13,020)
Hungarian0.4%(11,971)
West Indian0.4%(11,825)
Ukrainian0.4%(11,730)
French Canadian0.3%(9,478)
Swiss0.2%(8,184)
Czech0.2%(8,134)
Canadian0.2%(6,928)
Lebanese0.2%(6,920)
Brazilian0.2%(6,661)
Lithuanian0.2%(5,691)
Austrian0.2%(5,673)
Armenian0.2%(5,546)
Jamaican0.2%(5,354)
Finnish0.1%(4,364)
Ethiopian0.1%(4,128)
Croatian0.1%(4,126)
Romanian0.1%(4,002)
Syrian0.1%(3,877)
Egyptian0.1%(3,605)
Somali0.1%(3,222)
Serbian0.1%(3,197)
Nigerian0.1%(2,974)
Haitian0.1%(2,945)
Belgian0.1%(2,907)
Turkish0.1%(2,798)
Israeli0.1%(2,745)
Slovak0.1%(2,717)
Palestinian0.1%(2,128)
Bulgarian0.1%(1,779)
Australian0.1%(1,711)
Moroccan0%(1,108)
Slovene0%(1,082)
Kenyan0%(1,003)
Guyanese0%(936)
Latvian0%(687)
Ghanaian0%(660)
Jordanian0%(550)
Macedonian0%(456)
Barbadian0%(267)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Filipino population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 29.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.1%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.2%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.5 min
+53%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.9%
−9.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.7%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 65.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.8%
−18.6 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
22.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 9.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−76.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.9%
+8.0 ptssince 2017
from 86.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
62.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 62.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
24.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 24.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.6%(555,874)
Married50.1%(685,901)
Widowed1.8%(25,326)
Divorced7.5%(102,565)
Women 15+
Never married32.8%(441,929)
Married48.8%(658,612)
Widowed6.9%(92,830)
Divorced11.5%(155,621)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to San Diego County

Orange County
Pop 3,149,507
Riverside County
Pop 2,544,916
Maricopa County
Pop 4,689,558
King County
Pop 2,344,939
Places similar to San Diego County
Head to head

Compare San Diego County to nearby counties

SAN DIEGO COUNTY VS
Riverside County
Income$93,074−12%
Home value$557,300−35%
Population2,544,916−22%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VS
Orange County
Income$116,289+9%
Home value$962,600+13%
Population3,149,507−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VS
Imperial County
Income$57,681−46%
Home value$309,600−64%
Population181,411−94%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income$90,112−15%
Home value$834,200−2%
Population9,694,934+195%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Diego County, California?

San Diego County, California has about 3,288,774 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in San Diego County, California?

The typical household in San Diego County, California earns about $106,268 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Diego County, California expensive?

In San Diego County, California, the median home is worth about $854,700, and the typical rent is about $2,246 a month.

How educated are people in San Diego County, California?

About 43.2% of adults age 25 and over in San Diego County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Diego County, California?

About 10.3% of people in San Diego County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has San Diego County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, San Diego County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 790,758 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

737 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 187Census Tract 133.17Census Tract 83.05Census Tract 170.65Census Tract 29.04Census Tract 215.02Census Tract 168.04Census Tract 133.19Census Tract 201.10Census Tract 200.44Census Tract 203.10Census Tract 170.64Census Tract 200.30Census Tract 133.21Census Tract 193.03Census Tract 191.05Census Tract 85.03Census Tract 168.07Census Tract 83.28Census Tract 133.16
115 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 91911ZIP 92154ZIP 91910ZIP 92126ZIP 92105ZIP 92021ZIP 92115ZIP 92114ZIP 91977ZIP 92130ZIP 91950ZIP 92071ZIP 92020ZIP 91913ZIP 92057ZIP 92027ZIP 92056ZIP 92078ZIP 92026ZIP 92129ZIP 92117ZIP 92028ZIP 92101ZIP 92024ZIP 92127ZIP 92025ZIP 92058ZIP 92084ZIP 92128ZIP 92064
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →