San Luis Obispo County, California Demographics 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
San Luis Obispo County, California has a population of 281,555, the 24th most populous county in California. The median household income is $97,446 and the median home value is $824,700. The poverty rate is 12.9%.
San Luis Obispo County Quick Facts
How San Luis Obispo County Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 282,165 | 281,555 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | $90,479 | $97,446 | +7.7% |
| Median home value¹ | $706,426 | $824,700 | +16.7% |
| Median gross rent | $1,817 | $1,992 | +9.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 64.5%
- Black: 1.1%
- Hispanic: 25.0%
- Asian: 3.4%
- Other: 0.7%
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < HS: 7.8%
- HS Diploma: 18.1%
- Some College: 23.6%
- Associate's: 10.7%
- Bachelor's: 24.2%
- Graduate+: 15.7%
Cities & Places in San Luis Obispo County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | 48,491 | $73,685 | 30.4% | $935,100 |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) | 31,446 | $92,228 | 13.1% | $687,200 |
| Atascadero | 29,712 | $91,429 | 11.4% | $716,500 |
| Arroyo Grande | 18,372 | $102,553 | 4.8% | $814,200 |
| Nipomo | 17,516 | $110,022 | 5.7% | $723,700 |
| Los Osos | 14,166 | $108,932 | 8.1% | $805,800 |
| Grover Beach | 12,604 | $86,458 | 11.8% | $727,500 |
| Morro Bay | 10,692 | $95,843 | 8.5% | $918,200 |
| Templeton | 9,580 | $117,063 | 4.2% | $810,400 |
| Pismo Beach | 8,014 | $118,072 | 6.9% | $1,021,300 |
| California Polytechnic State University | 7,915 | N/A | 7.5% | $564,700 |
| Oceano | 7,128 | $71,598 | 17.2% | $556,100 |
| Cambria | 5,978 | $99,147 | 10.5% | $930,200 |
| Lake Nacimiento | 3,339 | $91,615 | 3.5% | $504,200 |
| San Miguel (San Luis Obispo County) | 3,227 | $95,458 | 27.0% | $539,700 |
| Cayucos | 2,427 | $87,235 | 9.3% | $1,011,900 |
| Callender | 2,230 | $136,346 | 16.5% | $945,400 |
| Woodlands | 2,061 | $136,618 | 5.4% | $1,162,200 |
| Los Ranchos | 1,467 | $121,800 | 0.4% | $1,244,900 |
| Avila Beach | 1,303 | $218,259 | 4.8% | $1,243,300 |
| Shandon | 1,169 | $107,273 | 1.6% | $448,500 |
| Santa Margarita | 1,149 | N/A | 3.0% | $684,000 |
| Blacklake | 983 | $99,417 | 0.8% | $825,600 |
| Edna | 330 | N/A | 0.0% | $2,000,000+ |
| Whitley Gardens | 244 | $28,214 | 68.0% | N/A |
| Garden Farms | 241 | N/A | 37.3% | N/A |
| San Simeon | 217 | $54,625 | 6.5% | $442,900 |
| Los Berros | 145 | $250,000+ | 13.1% | N/A |
| Oak Shores | 128 | $66,750 | 33.6% | $525,000 |
Explore California Rankings
Population Overview
San Luis Obispo County is located in California with a total population of 281,555. It is the 24th most populous county out of 58 in California. The county encompasses 29 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in San Luis Obispo County is 40.4 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in San Luis Obispo County is $97,446. This is 2% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 21% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $824,700. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 62.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in San Luis Obispo County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 25.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (64.5% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
39.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%. Notably, 15.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for San Luis Obispo County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against California and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of San Luis Obispo County, California?
San Luis Obispo County has a population of 281,555, making it the 24th most populous county in California.
What is the median income in San Luis Obispo County?
The median household income in San Luis Obispo County is $97,446 with a poverty rate of 12.9%.
How many cities are in San Luis Obispo County, California?
San Luis Obispo County contains 29 Census-designated places.