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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

San Luis Obispo Metro

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA · 1 counties · 282,424 residents · 3,300.842 sq mi
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The short version

San Luis Obispo is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $77,948. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $605,200.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.8
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 84%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
282,424
+14%since 2000
from 246,681 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
86 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
41.4
+11%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
211K230K250K270K289K1990201020202024San Luis Obispo
2024282K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,948
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,428 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,686
+77%since 2000
from $21,864 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
51.7%
+16.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.4%
US avg: 10%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$605,200
+84%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $218,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,535
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $719 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
61.5%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 61.5% in 2000
38.5% rent
Afford Score
7.8
+51%since 2000
from 5.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic65%(183,468)
Black1.5%(4,330)
Hispanic / Latino24%(67,921)
Asian3.5%(10,001)
Other3.8%(10,807)
Diversity Score62%(175,243)
Segregation Score25%(70,696)
Diversity Score
62
+40%since 2000
from 44 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.1%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 26.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.8%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 85.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.8%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
72.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
39.6%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
49.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
9.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.0%
−80.2 ptssince 2013
from 86.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$480,300−21%
Population304,261+8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Bremerton
Income$104,158+34%
Home value$555,100−8%
Population283,374same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Bend
Income$90,045+16%
Home value$605,107same
Population266,376−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SAN LUIS OBISPO VS
Norwich
Income$86,586+11%
Home value$323,400−47%
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 282,424 residents according to the 2020 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 $77,948 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 $605,200, and the typical rent is about $1,535 a month.

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

About 36.1% 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 11.1% 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 65,262 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

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