San Luis Obispo, CA Demographics
What is the population of San Luis Obispo?
There are 47,529 residents in San Luis Obispo, with a median age of 25.2. Of this, 50.7% are males and 49.3% are females. US-born citizens make up 89.98% of the resident pool in San Luis Obispo, while non-US-born citizens account for 6.16%. Additionally, 3.87% of the population is represented by non-citizens.
A total of 30,327 people in San Luis Obispo currently live in the same house as they did last year.
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Total Population | 47,529 | 0.6% |
| Male Population | 24,099 | 0.2% |
| Female Population | 23,430 | 1.0% |
Male Population 50.7%
Female Population 49.3%
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Median Age | 25.2 | -3.1% |
| Citizen U.S. Born | 42,766 | 0.8% |
| Citizen not U.S. Born | 2,926 | 4.7% |
| Not Citizen | 1,837 | -9.5% |
Citizen U.S. Born 89.98%
Citizen not U.S. Born 6.16%
Not Citizen 3.87%
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Moved from Abroad | 286 | -9.2% |
| Moved from Same County | 9,820 | 0.3% |
| Moved from Same State | 5,700 | 10.1% |
| Moved from Different State | 1,138 | -12.3% |
| Same House as Last Year | 30,327 | -0.3% |
Moved from Abroad 0.61%
Moved from Same County 20.77%
Moved from Same State 12.06%
Moved from Different State 2.41%
Same House as Last Year 64.16%
What are the employment statistics in San Luis Obispo?
White-collar workers make up 87.27% of the working population in San Luis Obispo, while blue-collar employees account for 12.73%. There are also 2,413 entrepreneurs in San Luis Obispo (9.63% of the workforce); 15,859 workers employed in private companies (63.28%); and 5,261 people working in governmental institutions (20.99%).
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| White Collar | 21,870 | -0.5% |
| Blue Collar | 3,191 | 3.6% |
White Collar 87.27%
Blue Collar 12.73%
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Self Employees | 2,413 | 1.8% |
| Private Companies | 15,859 | -1.8% |
| Governmental Workers | 5,261 | 2.6% |
| Not for Profit Companies | 1,528 | 7.7% |
Self Employees 9.63%
Private Companies 63.28%
Governmental Workers 20.99%
Not for Profit Companies 6.1%
How many households are there in San Luis Obispo?
There are a total of 19,254 households in San Luis Obispo, each made up of around 2 members. Family establishments represent 40.37% of these San Luis Obispo households, while non-family units account for the remaining 59.63%. Additionally, 14.22% of households have children and 85.78% of households are without children.
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Total households | 19,254 | 1.1% |
| Average People per Household | 2 | N/A |
| Family Households | 7,772 | 1.0% |
| Non-Family Households | 11,482 | 1.2% |
Family Households 40.37%
Non-Family Households 59.63%
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Households with Children | 2,738 | -0.3% |
| Households without Children | 16,516 | 1.4% |
Households with Children 14.22%
Households without Children 85.78%
What are the median and average incomes in San Luis Obispo?
The average annual household income in San Luis Obispo is $102,391, while the median household income sits at $65,000 per year. Residents aged 25 to 44 earn $103,294, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $115,469. In contrast, people younger than 25 and those older than 65 earn less, at $22,850 and $67,549, respectively.
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Average Household Income | $102,391 | 6.3% |
| Median Household Income | $65,000 | 5.1% |
| People below Poverty Level | 7 | N/A |
| People above Poverty Level | 31,511 | -2.0% |
How many homeowners and renters are there in San Luis Obispo?
There are 20,969 housing units in San Luis Obispo, and the median year in which these properties were built is 1976. Of the 19,254 occupied housing units in San Luis Obispo, 38.02% are owner-occupied, while 61.98% have renters living in them.
Meanwhile, properties bought with mortgages account for 59.74% of the units, and the median value of a home with a mortgage is $874,800. In general, housing costs reach $1,839 per month in San Luis Obispo.
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Housing Units | 20,969 | -0.3% |
| Median Year Built | 1976 | 0.0% |
| Built in 1939 or Earlier | 2,213 | -4.2% |
| Built between 1940 and 1949 | 996 | -1.4% |
| Built between 1950 and 1959 | 2,049 | 0.7% |
| Built between 1960 and 1969 | 2,505 | -9.0% |
| Built between 1970 and 1979 | 4,504 | 7.5% |
| Built between 1980 and 1989 | 3,292 | -5.3% |
| Built between 1990 and 1999 | 2,348 | -1.3% |
| Built between 2000 and 2009 | 1,829 | 1.0% |
| Built between 2010 and 2019 | 1,065 | 5.3% |
| Built in 2020 or Later | 168 | 189.7% |
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Occupied Housing Units | 19,254 | 1.1% |
| Owner Occupied | 7,320 | -2.8% |
| Renter Occupied | $11,934 | 3.7% |
Owner Occupied 38.02%
Renter Occupied 61.98%
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| With Mortgage | 4,373 | -3.1% |
| Without Mortgage | 2,947 | -2.2% |
| Median Value with Mortgage | $874,800 | 18.5% |
| Median Value without Mortgage | $783,300 | 16.6% |
| Median Housing Costs per Month | $1,839 | 8.9% |
With Mortgage 59.74%
Without Mortgage 40.26%
What is the level of education in San Luis Obispo?
Approximately 16.22% of the population in San Luis Obispo holds a high school degree (that's 6,894 residents), while 39.88% have attained a college certificate (7,134 locals) and 23.69% have a bachelor's degree (10,070 people).
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| No High School | 605 | -4.6% |
| Some High School | 6,894 | -3.6% |
| Some College | 7,134 | -0.8% |
| Associate Degree | 2,568 | 1.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10,070 | -0.1% |
| Graduate Degree | 5,421 | -4.3% |
No High School 1.42%
Some High School 16.22%
Some College 39.88%
Associate Degree 6.04%
Bachelor's Degree 23.69%
Graduate Degree 12.75%
What is the marital status of San Luis Obispo residents?
A total of 26,006 people in San Luis Obispo have never been married (which represents 59.98% of the total population), while 12,478 of them are wedded (28.78%). Separated and divorced residents are in smaller numbers, at 341 (0.79%) and 3,205 (7.39%), respectively.
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Never Married | 26,006 | 2.6% |
| Married | 12,478 | 0.8% |
| Separated | 341 | -15.8% |
| Widowed | 1,672 | -0.2% |
| Divorced | 3,205 | 3,205.0% |
Never Married 59.98%
Married 28.78%
Separated 0.79%
Widowed 3.86%
Divorced 7.39%
What are the most common means of transportation in San Luis Obispo?
The top three means of transportation people in San Luis Obispo use to get to work are: car, walking and bicycle. A total of 17,383 residents commute by car, 1,760 prefer going to work by walking and 1,378 by bicycle
| Y-o-Y Change | ||
| Car | 17,383 | -3.5% |
| Bus or TrolleyBus | 316 | -24.4% |
| Bicycle | 1,378 | 3.7% |
| Motorcycle | 49 | -35.5% |
| TaxiCab | 30 | -63.4% |
| Walk | 1,760 | -1.7% |
What is the median and average household income in San Luis Obispo by zipcode?
Methodology & Disclaimers
Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest U.S. Census Bureau release, the 2022 American Community Survey. The information is updated yearly, as soon as new data is made available by the US Census Bureau.
No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information modified or aggregated for specific neighborhoods and/or zip codes.