San Diego, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 1,389,526 Household income: $108,077 Rent: $2,313

Overview

Total population

1,389,526

Rent

$2,313

Year built

1979

Household income

$108,077

Per capita income

$57,083

Poverty rate

11%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

1,389,526

Adults over 25

984,073

Total households

530,412

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$108,077

Per capita income

$57,083

Poverty rate

11%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

52.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,313

Year built

1979

Households that rent

52.7%

Households that own

47.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.5

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

46.6%

Black

5.6%

Asian

17.6%

Two or more races

18.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

29.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

70.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

78.8%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

21.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25.5%

High school graduate or GED

14.8%

Some college or associate degree

8.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

51%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of San Diego, CA with: California United States

San Diego, CA

Total population1,389,526

Rent$2,313

Year built1979

Household income$108,077

Per capita income$57,083

Poverty rate11%

Unemployment rate4.1%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CitySan Diego, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	1,389,526	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$2,313	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1979	1976	1980
Household income	$108,077	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$57,083	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	11%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of San Diego, CA, California and United States →

Summary for San Diego, CA

San Diego is located in California.

Rent & Income

In San Diego, the typical monthly rent is $2,313 and the typical household income is $108,077. Rent here is higher than in both California and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 11%, which is lower than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 52.7% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 51% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is lower than California and similar to the national rate.

San Diego, CA — Rent vs Household Income

San Diego, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How San Diego, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,313	120 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$108,077	74 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	11%	99 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	57 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for San Diego, CA

Rent

San Diego ranks 120th out of 180 large places in California for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,148 in Porterville, CA to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

San Diego ranks 74th among 180 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

San Diego places 99th out of 180 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 4.1% in Cupertino, CA up to 26.5% in Davis, CA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, San Diego ranks 57th out of 180 significant areas. Across California, unemployment varies from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in San Diego, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,313 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in San Diego, CA

Annual Household Income: $108,077

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in San Diego, CA

Estimated Rate: 11%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in San Diego, CA

In San Diego, CA, households that rent: 279,312 (52.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	279,312	52.7%
Owner-Occupied	251,100	47.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in San Diego, CA

In San Diego, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 146,615 (52.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	146,615	52.5%
Other renter households	132,697	47.5%
Total renter households	279,312	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in San Diego, CA

Less than High School: 251,414 people (25.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 145,809 people (14.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 85,108 people (8.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 501,742 people (51%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 984,073

📊 Unemployment Rate in San Diego, CA

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

San Antonio, TX1,458,954 Dallas, TX1,299,553 Philadelphia, PA1,582,432 Phoenix, AZ1,624,832

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.