City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Gilroy, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gilroy - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

58,561
Residents
$131,554
Median income
$975,800
Median home
$3,483
Median rent (state)

Gilroy - the verdict

Nationally, Gilroy sits in the 91st percentile for household income and the 20th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

91st
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
20th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gilroy, CA

58,561 people live in Gilroy, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Gilroy households earn a median of $131,554 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. Gilroy's housing stock carries a median value of $975,800, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. Educational attainment runs 28.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 153 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 20% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2624.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 60.2°F with 19.8 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $3,483 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 29.7 minutes, with 68.7% driving alone and 12.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

58,561 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$131,554 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Gilroy compare to other US cities?

Gilroy measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 91% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities
Safety 20% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Gilroy ranks #328 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Gilroy's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

91stIncome percentile
20thSafety percentile

91st percentile nationally for median household income · 20th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gilroy's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gilroy's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Gilroy's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gilroy's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$975,800 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gilroy $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gilroy, CA Gilroy, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gilroy, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gilroy, CA median $131,554/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gilroy, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gilroy, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
58,561
Median Income
$131,554
Median Home Value
$975,800
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
62.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2624.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
461.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2163.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
60.2°F
Annual Precipitation
19.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
57,000 residents58,000 residents59,000 residents60,000 residents61,000 residents62,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 59,452 residents 60,764 residents ▲ +2.2%
Gilroy's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
153
housing units authorized
Single-Family
153
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 191
2020 239
2021 248
2022 219
2023 133
2024 153

Permit volume decreased 20% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
29.7 minutes
Drive Alone
68.7%
Carpool
14.6%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
12.6%
Other
1.0%

Based on 26,499 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gilroy sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,483/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Cupertino
58,886 people
Petaluma
59,321 people
Hanford
59,389 people
Santee
59,485 people
Monterey Park
59,639 people
Gardena
59,765 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gilroy's 58,561 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hempstead, NY
58,569 people
The Hammocks, FL
58,548 people
Burlington, NC
58,599 people
Terre Haute, IN
58,491 people
Margate, FL
58,418 people
Springfield, OH
58,410 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gilroy's $131,554 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Andover, MN
$131,528 median income
Bonney Lake, WA
$131,524 median income
Contoocook, NH
$131,518 median income
Stevensville, MD
$131,618 median income
Nocatee, FL
$131,488 median income
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
$131,641 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gilroy, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gilroy, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.4% 9.8% 14.0% 33.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 59.4% White 38.4% Black or African American 2.1% Asian 9.8% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 14.0% Two or more races 33.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gilroy compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gilroy (this city) 58,561 $131,554
Cupertino 58,886 $231,139
Petaluma 59,321 $109,823
Hanford 59,389 $73,544
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gilroy, CA?

What is the population of Gilroy, CA? +

The population of Gilroy, CA stands at 58,561 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gilroy, CA? +

The median household income in Gilroy is $131,554 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gilroy? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gilroy; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Gilroy, CA safe? +

Gilroy has a total crime rate of 2624.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Gilroy, CA? +

Homes in Gilroy carry a median value of $975,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Gilroy? +

Gilroy has an average annual temperature of 60.2°F, 19.8 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.