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METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

San Diego Metro

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 1 counties · 3,095,313 residents · 4,210.46 sq mi
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The short version

San Diego is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $63,069. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $486,000.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 34.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,095,313
+10%since 2000
from 2,813,833 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
735 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 668 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
34.6
+4%since 2000
from 33.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
2.4M2.7M2.9M3.2M3.4M1990201020202024San Diego
20243.3M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,069
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,067 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,715
+34%since 2000
from $22,926 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
42.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
12.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information10.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$486,000
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $212,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,228
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $761 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
42.7%
−12.8 ptssince 2000
from 55.4% in 2000
45.6% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
44.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
7.7
+71%since 2000
from 4.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score72.7%(2,046,778)
2010
White, non-Hispanic48.5%(1,500,047)
Black4.7%(146,600)
Hispanic / Latino32%(991,348)
Asian10.6%(328,058)
Other3.8%(117,188)
Diversity Score80.6%(2,495,191)
Diversity Score
81
+11%since 2000
from 73 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.1%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.5% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
85.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
12.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.6 min
+47%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
3.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
6.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
39.5%
−26.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
23.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.1%
−37.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
In this metro

Principal cities

San DiegoCENTRAL1,406,106Chula VistaCENTRAL275,533CarlsbadCENTRAL112,260EncinitasCENTRAL60,736
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+70%
Home value$598,608+23%
Population3,092,037−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Baltimore
Income$103,525+64%
Home value$390,167−20%
Population2,857,781−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Minneapolis
Income$100,194+59%
Home value$375,718−23%
Population3,790,295+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN DIEGO VS
Austin
Income$100,512+59%
Home value$473,482−3%
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 3,095,313 residents according to the 2010 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 $63,069 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 $486,000, and the typical rent is about $1,228 a month.

How educated are people in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

About 34.1% 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 12.3% 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 597,297 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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