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METRO AREA

San Luis Obispo Metro

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 1 counties · 282,367 residents (2025 est.) · 3,300.842 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#16Most expensive homesof 925$824,700#20Highest median rentof 925$1,992#42Highest median household incomeof 925$97,446
The short version

San Luis Obispo is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $97,446. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $824,700. 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
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 107%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
281,555
+14%since 2000
from 246,681 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
85 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+8%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:282,367 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
211K230K250K270K289K1990201020202024San Luis Obispo
2024282K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$97,446
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,428 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,592
+136%since 2000
from $21,864 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
60.8%
+25.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
+4%since 2010
from 0.456 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$824,700
+107%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $218,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,992
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $719 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 61.5% in 2000
37.9% rent
Vacancy rate
12.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.6%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.0%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.5
+64%since 2000
from 5.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
73
RELATED:See current rent listings in San Luis Obispo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.1%(187,840)
Black1.9%(4,743)
Hispanic / Latino16.3%(40,196)
Asian2.6%(6,342)
Other0%
Diversity Score44.2%(109,023)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.5%(181,605)
Black1.1%(3,058)
Hispanic / Latino25%(70,318)
Asian3.4%(9,614)
Other6%(16,960)
Diversity Score64.6%(181,842)
Segregation Score24.8%(69,819)
Diversity Score
65
+46%since 2000
from 44 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
−1%since 2020
from 25 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.8%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 85.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
15.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+60%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.1%
−20.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
49.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−45.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 11.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−80.5 ptssince 2013
from 86.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.1%
+8.1 ptssince 2017
from 85.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 81.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
13.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 14.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

San Luis ObispoCENTRAL50,636El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)CENTRAL31,626
What's inside

1 component county

San Luis Obispo CountyCENTRAL282,367
Drill deeper

Metros similar to San Luis Obispo

Lacey
Pop 304,261
Bremerton
Pop 283,374
Bend
Pop 266,376
Norwich
Pop 284,015
Places similar to San Luis Obispo
Head to head

Compare San Luis Obispo side by side

SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Lacey
Income$96,563−1%
Home value$480,300−42%
Population304,261+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Bremerton
Income$104,158+7%
Home value$555,100−33%
Population283,374same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Bend
Income$90,045−8%
Home value$605,107−27%
Population266,376−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Norwich
Income$86,586−11%
Home value$323,400−61%
Population284,015+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA has about 281,555 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?

The typical household in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA earns about $97,446 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA expensive?

In San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, the median home is worth about $824,700, and the typical rent is about $1,992 a month.

How educated are people in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?

About 39.8% of adults age 25 and over in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?

About 12.9% of people in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 64,393 residents, a change of about 30 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 →