San Luis Obispo

Population: 48,039
Median household income: $66,711
Median home value: $896,500

San Luis Obispo, a community in San Luis Obispo County, California, has 48,039 residents. Its median household income of $66,711 runs below the San Luis Obispo County figure of $93,398.

Between 2019 and 2023, San Luis Obispo's population grew 1.6% from 47,302 to 48,039, while its median home value rose 39.4% from $643,200 to $896,500.

64.0% of workers drive to work alone. 45.2% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 48,039
Median age: 26.2 yrs
Median household income: $66,711
Median home value: $896,500
Median gross rent: $1,906
Housing units: 21,783
Homeownership rate: 39.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 54.4%
Unemployment rate: 6.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

47,30248,039

Median household income

$56,071$66,711

Median home value

$643,200$896,500

Median gross rent

$1,575$1,906

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	47,302	$56,071	$643,200	$1,575
2020	47,402	$58,546	$662,300	$1,611
2021	47,257	$61,862	$719,300	$1,718
2022	47,529	$65,000	$841,700	$1,850
2023	48,039	$66,711	$896,500	$1,906

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.9%

5 to 177.8%

18 to 2437.0%

25 to 3413.8%

35 to 448.8%

45 to 546.9%

55 to 649.1%

65 to 747.8%

75 and over5.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,415	2.9%
5 to 17	3,752	7.8%
18 to 24	17,792	37.0%
25 to 34	6,620	13.8%
35 to 44	4,213	8.8%
45 to 54	3,302	6.9%
55 to 64	4,370	9.1%
65 to 74	3,767	7.8%
75 and over	2,808	5.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	33,860	70.5%
Black or African American	559	1.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	83	0.2%
Asian	2,428	5.1%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	73	0.2%
Some other race	235	0.5%
Two or more races	2,489	5.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8,312	17.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma4.0%

High school graduate12.7%

Some college or associate's28.9%

Bachelor's degree31.2%

Graduate or professional degree23.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	998	4.0%
High school graduate	3,179	12.7%
Some college or associate's	7,250	28.9%
Bachelor's degree	7,822	31.2%
Graduate or professional degree	5,831	23.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 16 min

Drove alone64.0%

Carpooled6.7%

Public transit1.4%

Walked6.9%

Bicycle4.5%

Worked from home15.9%

Other means0.5%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	16,095	64.0%
Carpooled	1,675	6.7%
Public transit	359	1.4%
Walked	1,733	6.9%
Bicycle	1,141	4.5%
Worked from home	4,008	15.9%
Other means	134	0.5%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	12,271	58.1%
15 to 29 min	6,245	29.5%
30 to 44 min	1,750	8.3%
45 to 59 min	438	2.1%
60+ min	433	2.0%

Households

Average household size: 2.34
Poverty rate: 30.0% (14,154 of 47,207)

	Count	Share
Family households	8,175	40.9%
Nonfamily households	11,830	59.1%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1976

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	20,005	91.8%
Vacant	1,778	8.2%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	7,793	39.0%
Renter-occupied	12,212	61.0%

1-unit, detached45.2%

1-unit, attached8.3%

2 to 4 units15.8%

5 to 19 units13.5%

20 or more units11.8%

Mobile home & other5.3%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	9,840	45.2%
1-unit, attached	1,811	8.3%
2 to 4 units	3,448	15.8%
5 to 19 units	2,944	13.5%
20 or more units	2,578	11.8%
Mobile home & other	1,162	5.3%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0668154
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 14 sq mi
Water area: 0.15 sq mi
Center point: 35.2662, -120.6684