City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Lake San Marcos, CA

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

4,996
Residents
$100,676
Median income
$859,600
Median home
$3,001
Median rent (state)

Lake San Marcos - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lake San Marcos places in the 78th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

78th
percentile, household income
96th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Lake San Marcos, CA

California's Lake San Marcos is a small town, with 4,996 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $100,676 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.5%. Lake San Marcos's housing stock carries a median value of $859,600, and the median resident age is 60.1 years. 35.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 49.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $3,001 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.7 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

4,996 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$100,676 /yr

Poverty 2.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Lake San Marcos compare to other US cities?

Where Lake San Marcos sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 78% higher than other cities
Home value 96% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lake San Marcos against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Lake San Marcos toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Lake San Marcos ranks #287 - the 76th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lake San Marcos only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#503 of 1,338
62nd percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#287 of 1,458
76th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#322 of 1,343
76th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,072 of 1,450
25th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#513 of 1,458
65th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

78thIncome percentile

78th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lake San Marcos's home value compares nationally

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

$859,600 4th percentile more affordable than 4% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lake San Marcos $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 - Lake San Marcos, CA Lake San Marcos, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake San Marcos, 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 Lake San Marcos, CA median $100,676/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%
Lake San Marcos, 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 Lake San Marcos, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.4%

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

Population
4,996
Median Income
$100,676
Median Home Value
$859,600
Median Age
60.1
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Labor force participation
49.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.5%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.5%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
21.0%

Based on 2,148 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 Lake San Marcos sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,001/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

Sunnyside
5,003 people
Lake of the Pines
5,012 people
Lake Wildwood
4,967 people
Sonora
4,965 people
Myrtletown
5,028 people
Oakhurst
4,956 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake San Marcos's 4,996 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ste. Genevieve, MO
4,996 people
Naples Park, FL
4,995 people
Winter Beach, FL
4,995 people
North Westport, MA
4,995 people
Summit, WI
4,997 people
Pensacola Station, FL
4,993 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake San Marcos's $100,676 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Asbury Lake, FL
$100,681 median income
Manassas Park, VA
$100,668 median income
New Salem, PA
$100,688 median income
Bartlett, TN
$100,660 median income
Maple, MI
$100,694 median income
Oregon, WI
$100,695 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake San Marcos, 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 Lake San Marcos, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.7% 19.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.6% White 68.7% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 5.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 19.0% Two or more races 5.6% 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 Lake San Marcos 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
Lake San Marcos (this city) 4,996 $100,676
Sunnyside 5,003 $114,500
Lake of the Pines 5,012 $118,661
Lake Wildwood 4,967 $87,552
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake San Marcos, CA?

What is the population of Lake San Marcos, CA? +

The population of Lake San Marcos, CA stands at 4,996 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake San Marcos, CA? +

The median household income in Lake San Marcos is $100,676 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake San Marcos? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lake San Marcos; 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.

What is the median home value in Lake San Marcos, CA? +

The median home value in Lake San Marcos is $859,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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.