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METRO AREA

San Diego Metro

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 1 counties · 3,282,248 residents (2025 est.) · 4,210.46 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#5Highest median rentof 925$2,246#13Most expensive homesof 925$854,700#18Highest median household incomeof 925$106,268#18Largest by populationof 9253,282,248
The short version

San Diego 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 metro areas 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
+17%since 2000
from 668 / sq mi in 2000
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
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
81
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 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
In this metro

Largest cities

San DiegoCENTRAL1,406,106Chula VistaCENTRAL275,533Oceanside170,483Escondido146,030CarlsbadCENTRAL112,260El Cajon101,755Vista98,274San Marcos94,908EncinitasCENTRAL60,736La Mesa59,914Santee58,205National City57,807Poway49,180La Presa34,962Fallbrook32,112Spring Valley CDP (San Diego County)31,969Lemon Grove27,936Imperial Beach25,206Ramona22,634Lakeside CDP (San Diego County)22,447Winter Gardens22,131Rancho San Diego21,272Coronado21,094Casa de Oro-Mount Helix19,765Bostonia16,765Camp Pendleton South15,766Alpine15,180Bonita12,652Solana Beach12,602Valley Center11,119

The 30 most populous of 57 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

What's inside

1 component county

San Diego CountyCENTRAL3,282,248
Drill deeper

Metros similar to San Diego

Denver
Pop 3,092,037
Baltimore
Pop 2,857,781
Minneapolis
Pop 3,790,295
Austin
Pop 2,620,945
Places similar to San Diego
Head to head

Compare San Diego side by side

SAN DIEGO VS
Denver
Income$107,207+1%
Home value$598,608−30%
Population3,092,037−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Baltimore
Income$103,525−3%
Home value$390,167−54%
Population2,857,781−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Minneapolis
Income$100,194−6%
Home value$375,718−56%
Population3,790,295+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Austin
Income$100,512−5%
Home value$473,482−45%
Population2,620,945−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA has about 3,288,774 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

The typical household in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns about $106,268 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA expensive?

In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 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-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

About 43.2% of adults age 25 and over in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

About 10.3% of people in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →