Skip to main content

San Luis Obispo County, California Demographics 2026

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%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

San Luis Obispo County Quick Facts

Population 281,555
Median Household Income $97,446
Median Home Value $824,700
Poverty Rate 12.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 40.4 years
Homeownership Rate 62.1%
Affordability Ratio 8.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 39.8%
High School Graduation 92.2%
Cities/Places 29
Population 281,555 24th of 58
Median Income $97,446 2% lower than state
Poverty Rate 12.9%
Unemployment 5.5%

How San Luis Obispo County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population281,486281,555+0.0%
Median household income$93,398$97,446+4.3%
Median home value$777,200$824,700+6.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.6%
$25K-$50K 13.4%
$50K-$100K 25.2%
$100K+ 48.9%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
2.6%
$15K-$20K
2.9%
$20K-$25K
2.7%
$25K-$30K
2.2%
$30K-$35K
2.6%
$35K-$40K
2.9%
$40K-$45K
2.7%
$45K-$50K
3.0%
$50K-$60K
4.9%
$60K-$75K
8.4%
$75K-$100K
12.0%
$100K-$125K
11.4%
$125K-$150K
8.0%
$150K-$200K
12.0%
$200K+
17.4%

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
58.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.1%
Renter 37.9%
Affordability Index Very Expensive
8.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,992/mo 24.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

52out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in San Luis Obispo County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
San Luis Obispo48,491$73,68530.4%$935,100
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)31,446$92,22813.1%$687,200
Atascadero29,712$91,42911.4%$716,500
Arroyo Grande18,372$102,5534.8%$814,200
Nipomo17,516$110,0225.7%$723,700
Los Osos14,166$108,9328.1%$805,800
Grover Beach12,604$86,45811.8%$727,500
Morro Bay10,692$95,8438.5%$918,200
Templeton9,580$117,0634.2%$810,400
Pismo Beach8,014$118,0726.9%$1,021,300
California Polytechnic State University7,915N/A7.5%$564,700
Oceano7,128$71,59817.2%$556,100
Cambria5,978$99,14710.5%$930,200
Lake Nacimiento3,339$91,6153.5%$504,200
San Miguel (San Luis Obispo County)3,227$95,45827.0%$539,700
Cayucos2,427$87,2359.3%$1,011,900
Callender2,230$136,34616.5%$945,400
Woodlands2,061$136,6185.4%$1,162,200
Los Ranchos1,467$121,8000.4%$1,244,900
Avila Beach1,303$218,2594.8%$1,243,300
Shandon1,169$107,2731.6%$448,500
Santa Margarita1,149N/A3.0%$684,000
Blacklake983$99,4170.8%$825,600
Edna330N/A0.0%$2,000,000+
Whitley Gardens244$28,21468.0%N/A
Garden Farms241N/A37.3%N/A
San Simeon217$54,6256.5%$442,900
Los Berros145$250,000+13.1%N/A
Oak Shores128$66,75033.6%$525,000

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

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.