Census-designated place · California
Nipomo, California
Nipomo, census-designated place, in San Luis Obispo County, California. Nipomo had 17,516 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,517). GEOID 0651476.
Residents, 2020-2024
17,516
±1,517 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 18,176
Median household income
$110,022
±$13,665 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$723,700
±$44,284 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,106
±$167 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Nipomo and what county is it in?
Nipomo is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in San Luis Obispo County, California. It covers 15.1 square miles of land, 1,206 residents per square mile in 2020.
Nipomo is in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, 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 Nipomo, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Nipomo's population at 17,516 (±1,517). The 2020 Census counted 18,176 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Nipomo is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Nipomo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,516 ±1,517 | 281,555 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,693 ±379 | 109,503 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.07 ±0.19 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,076 ±387 | 125,669 | no clear change |
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 Nipomo?
The median resident of Nipomo is 37.8 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 15.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 51.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 38.7%. 18.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Nipomo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 ±2.2 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±2.2 pts | 17.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.7% ±2.1 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Male | 49.1% ±2.9 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 51.6% ±4.4 pts | 25.0% | +7.1 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 38.7% ±4.3 pts | 64.5% | −10.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±2.6 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±1.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 18.3% ±3.3 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 32.6% ±5.3 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3% ±1.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 11.8% ±2.2 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.9% ±2.8 pts | 5.7% | +4.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.5% ±3.6 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.0% ±3.5 pts | 39.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.8% ±1.9 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.5% ±4.6 pts | 82.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 Nipomo earn?
Half of Nipomo's 5,693 households earn less than $110,022 a year (±$13,665), against $97,446 in San Luis Obispo County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $101,585 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Nipomo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,022 ±$13,665 | $97,446 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $127,169 ±$8,894 | $131,990 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,924 ±$3,245 | $51,592 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7% ±3.1 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.6% ±6.8 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.4% ±3.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.3% ±1.8 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.9% ±2.5 pts | 93.1% | – |
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 Nipomo?
Owners occupy 65.6% of Nipomo's occupied homes and renters 34.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $723,700 by its owner (±$44,284). The median renter pays $2,106 a month including utilities, and 42.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Nipomo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $723,700 ±$44,284 | $824,700 | +$61,956 |
| Median gross rent | $2,106 ±$167 | $1,992 | +$275 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.4% ±11.2 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,742 ±$203 | $2,887 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.6% ±4.8 pts | 62.1% | −7.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.4% ±4.8 pts | 37.9% | – |
| Housing units | 6,076 ±387 | 125,669 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.9% ±4.8 pts | 67.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.7% ±3.3 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.3% ±4.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.9% ±1.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.4% ±1.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
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 do people in Nipomo work and get to work?
82.6% of Nipomo's workers drive alone and 5.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.3%.
| Measure | Nipomo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.9% ±3.1 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% ±1.5 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.6% ±4.5 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±3.1 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.5% ±1.9 pts | 15.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.0 min ±4.3 | 22.3 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 Nipomo?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Nipomo, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $105,377 (Tract 124.03) to $124,107 (Tract 124.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 124.04San Luis Obispo County | 6,378 | $112,057 |
| Tract 124.06San Luis Obispo County | 4,174 | $118,125 |
| Tract 124.03San Luis Obispo County | 3,815 | $105,377 |
| Tract 124.05San Luis Obispo County | 2,722 | $124,107 |
| Tract 123.06San Luis Obispo County | 4,634 | $125,750 |
| Tract 123.05San Luis Obispo County | 5,489 | $133,942 |
| Tract 123.02San Luis Obispo County | 6,526 | $130,875 |
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 Nipomo) · Census block assignment files
How does Nipomo compare with other places in California?
Nipomo ranks 357th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 376th | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 709th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 357th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 575th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 411th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 364th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 725th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 601st | 988 |
| Median age | 641st | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 544th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 770th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 521st | 1,069 |
Nipomo's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Nipomo 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 Nipomo?
12 of the 57 figures for Nipomo on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are 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 Nipomo 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' school search.