Foster City city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Foster City city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 32,964. It ranks as the 245th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Foster City city is 39.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Foster City city is $193,633. This is 101% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 147% higher. The poverty rate stands at 4.6%. This is 61% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,774,500. Housing costs are 155% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 51.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Foster City city is Asian, making up 53.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.8%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.8%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (53.9% vs 15.0%).

Education

74.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Foster City city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 103% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.9%. Notably, 40.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Foster City city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.