City · California
Escondido, California
Escondido, city, in San Diego County, California. Escondido had 146,030 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 151,038 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 149,668 (±57). GEOID 0622804.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
146,030
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 151,038 · ACS 2020-2024: 149,668 ±57
Median household income
$91,967
±$3,679 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$714,500
±$19,855 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,046
±$61 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Escondido and what county is it in?
Escondido is a city in San Diego County, California. It covers 37.4 square miles of land, 4,044 residents per square mile in 2020.
Escondido is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Escondido, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 146,030 people lived in Escondido on July 1, 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 151,038 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 149,668 (±57).
| Measure | Escondido | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 149,668 ±57 | 3,288,774 | −1,632 |
| Households | 50,346 ±1,201 | 1,171,278 | +3,245 |
| Average household size | 2.91 ±0.07 | 2.72 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 52,239 ±1,076 | 1,250,641 | +3,125 |
Escondido's population since 2000
From 133,559 in 2000 to 146,030 in 2025: up 9.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Escondido as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Escondido?
The median resident of Escondido is 36.9 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 14.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 52.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 32.8%. 29.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Escondido | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 ±0.7 | 37.3 | +2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 22.7% ±0.8 pts | 20.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.4% ±0.8 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Male | 50.1% ±1.0 pts | 50.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 52.3% ±1.6 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 32.8% ±1.4 pts | 42.4% | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±0.5 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.9% ±0.8 pts | 12.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.6% ±0.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 29.0% ±1.1 pts | 22.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 45.3% ±1.8 pts | 37.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±0.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.2% ±0.7 pts | 11.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.8% ±0.9 pts | 6.4% | −1.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.7% ±1.2 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.9% ±1.3 pts | 43.2% | +5.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.8% ±0.8 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.2% ±1.0 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 2.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Escondido earn?
Half of Escondido's 50,346 households earn less than $91,967 a year (±$3,679), against $106,268 in San Diego County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $78,811 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,156 after inflation. 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Escondido | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,967 ±$3,679 | $106,268 | +$13,156 |
| Mean household income | $117,204 ±$3,711 | $141,250 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,430 ±$1,361 | $51,976 | +$5,910 |
| People below the poverty line | 12.2% ±1.5 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.3% ±2.6 pts | 11.8% | −5.5 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.1% ±1.3 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1% ±0.7 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.2% ±0.9 pts | 94.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Escondido?
Owners occupy 53.4% of Escondido's occupied homes and renters 46.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $714,500 by its owner (±$19,855). The median renter pays $2,046 a month including utilities, and 52.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Escondido | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $714,500 ±$19,855 | $854,700 | +$160,442 |
| Median gross rent | $2,046 ±$61 | $2,246 | +$264 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.7% ±3.0 pts | 47.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,869 ±$71 | $3,184 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.4% ±1.7 pts | 54.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.6% ±1.7 pts | 45.4% | – |
| Housing units | 52,239 ±1,076 | 1,250,641 | +3,125 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 51.1% ±1.7 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.7% ±1.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±0.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.0% ±0.9 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.6% ±0.4 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.1% ±1.2 pts | 5.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Escondido building?
Builders took permits for 376 new housing units in Escondido in 2025 (314 in single-family houses), 2.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Escondido work and get to work?
71.1% of Escondido's workers drive alone and 13.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Escondido | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.7% ±1.0 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% ±0.6 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.1% ±1.6 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.0% ±1.2 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.8% ±0.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.9% ±1.2 pts | 18.7% | +10.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.5 min ±0.5 | 25.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Escondido?
30 census tracts lie mostly in Escondido, and 8 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $36,598 (Tract 202.14) to $164,185 (Tract 204.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 203.08San Diego County | 6,685 | $52,859 |
| Tract 202.02San Diego County | 6,550 | $53,028 |
| Tract 206.01San Diego County | 6,208 | $64,231 |
| Tract 202.11San Diego County | 5,809 | $57,192 |
| Tract 206.02San Diego County | 6,320 | $76,014 |
| Tract 201.10San Diego County | 9,085 | $134,891 |
| Tract 202.07San Diego County | 4,939 | $78,077 |
| Tract 202.06San Diego County | 4,894 | $71,250 |
| Tract 207.07San Diego County | 5,273 | $100,016 |
| Tract 201.08San Diego County | 4,731 | $68,516 |
| Tract 201.09San Diego County | 4,683 | $106,841 |
| Tract 202.14San Diego County | 4,643 | $36,598 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Escondido) · Census block assignment files
How does Escondido compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Escondido is the 195th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 40th-most populous of 483 in California.
Escondido ranks 535th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 40th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 324th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 318th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 535th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 578th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 420th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 393rd | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 380th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 530th | 988 |
| Median age | 690th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 839th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 476th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 547th | 1,069 |
Escondido's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Escondido with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Escondido?
1 of the 57 figures for Escondido on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Escondido are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Escondido.