San Marcos city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

San Marcos city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 94,078. It ranks as the 81st most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in San Marcos city is 36.8 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in San Marcos city is $105,286. This is 9% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% higher. The poverty rate stands at 10.2%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $792,400. Housing costs are 14% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

San Marcos city is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 37.4%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

42.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% 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 88.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for San Marcos 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.