Santa Clara city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Clara city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 129,239. It ranks as the 46th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Clara city is 34.5 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Clara city is $173,670. This is 80% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 121% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,527,900. Housing costs are 120% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 41.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Clara city is Asian, making up 47.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 28.6%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (16.1%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (47.4% vs 15.0%).

Education

65.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Santa Clara city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 79% 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 94.0%. Notably, 33.9% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Clara 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.