Census-designated place · California
Rio del Mar, California
Rio del Mar, census-designated place, in Santa Cruz County, California. Rio del Mar had 9,201 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±880). GEOID 0660928.
Residents, 2020-2024
9,201
±880 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 9,128
Median household income
$159,929
±$26,135 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,338,100
±$137,763 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$3,407
±$326 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Rio del Mar and what county is it in?
Rio del Mar is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Santa Cruz County, California. It covers 3.0 square miles of land, 3,043 residents per square mile in 2020.
Rio del Mar is in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Rio del Mar, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Rio del Mar's population at 9,201 (±880). The 2020 Census counted 9,128 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Rio del Mar is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Rio del Mar | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,201 ±880 | 264,926 | no clear change |
| Households | 3,800 ±375 | 96,898 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.42 ±0.16 | 2.58 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,856 ±357 | 106,977 | 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 Rio del Mar?
The median resident of Rio del Mar is 51.4 years old; 17.2% are under 18 and 25.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.1%. 8.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rio del Mar | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 ±2.3 | 39.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.2% ±3.4 pts | 18.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.6% ±3.6 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±2.4 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.1% ±4.7 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.4% ±4.8 pts | 53.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±2.1 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.3% ±2.7 pts | 18.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.6% ±4.0 pts | 33.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.7% ±5.0 pts | 11.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.1% ±1.2 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 65.2% ±4.6 pts | 43.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 32.7% ±3.9 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.5% ±2.9 pts | 86.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 Rio del Mar earn?
Half of Rio del Mar's 3,800 households earn less than $159,929 a year (±$26,135), against $111,093 in Santa Cruz County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $128,504 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $31,425 after inflation. 2.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rio del Mar | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $159,929 ±$26,135 | $111,093 | +$31,425 |
| Mean household income | $219,803 ±$32,646 | $156,439 | – |
| Per capita income | $91,703 ±$12,574 | $56,941 | +$15,017 |
| People below the poverty line | 2.3% ±1.2 pts | 11.6% | −3.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.6% ±0.9 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.3% ±2.4 pts | 97.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.5% ±3.2 pts | 94.2% | – |
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 Rio del Mar?
Owners occupy 75.2% of Rio del Mar's occupied homes and renters 24.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,338,100 by its owner (±$137,763). The median renter pays $3,407 a month including utilities, and 45.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rio del Mar | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,338,100 ±$137,763 | $1,027,500 | +$196,755 |
| Median gross rent | $3,407 ±$326 | $2,264 | +$656 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.1% ±11.2 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,524 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.2% ±5.2 pts | 59.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.8% ±5.2 pts | 40.1% | – |
| Housing units | 4,856 ±357 | 106,977 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5% ±1.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.5% ±7.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.6% ±3.9 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.3% ±1.8 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.8% ±1.5 pts | 5.2% | – |
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 Rio del Mar work and get to work?
60.9% of Rio del Mar's workers drive alone and 30.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.7%.
| Measure | Rio del Mar | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±4.4 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% ±2.4 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 60.9% ±7.9 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.7% ±2.6 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 30.2% ±8.5 pts | 19.3% | +14.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.0 min ±3.0 | 25.7 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 Rio del Mar?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Rio del Mar, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $132,838 (Tract 1222.03) to $182,050 (Tract 1222.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1222.03Santa Cruz County | 3,912 | $132,838 |
| Tract 1222.05Santa Cruz County | 3,103 | $182,050 |
| Tract 1222.02Santa Cruz County | 2,186 | $178,606 |
| Tract 9901Santa Cruz County | 0 | not published |
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 Rio del Mar) · Census block assignment files
How does Rio del Mar compare with other places in California?
Rio del Mar ranks 121st 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) | 513th | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 449th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 121st | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 105th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 123rd | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 56th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 834th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 119th | 988 |
| Median age | 142nd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 340th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 119th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 390th | 1,069 |
Rio del Mar's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Rio del Mar 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 Rio del Mar?
13 of the 57 figures for Rio del Mar 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 Rio del Mar 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.