City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

San Carlos, CA

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

29,797
Residents
$233,333
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

San Carlos - the verdict

Nationally, San Carlos sits in the 99th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

99th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
99th
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: San Carlos, CA

San Carlos is a small city in California, home to 29,797 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in San Carlos brings in $233,333 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.8%. San Carlos's housing stock carries a median value of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 41.6 years. 68.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 23 residential building permits were authorized in San Carlos (Construction Slowdown), down 36% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $3,604 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 17.2 minutes, with 54.1% driving alone and 32.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

29,797 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$233,333 /yr

Poverty 1.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does San Carlos compare to other US cities?

Here's how San Carlos stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 99% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% 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 San Carlos against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value is San Carlos's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, San Carlos ranks #1 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares San Carlos only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#41 of 1,338
97th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1 of 1,343
95th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,128 of 1,450
22nd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#118 of 1,458
92nd 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.

99thIncome percentile

99th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How San Carlos's home value compares nationally

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

$2,000,001 1st percentile more affordable than 1% 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%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. San Carlos $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 - San Carlos, CA San Carlos, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, CA median $233,333/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%
San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 68.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.6%

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

Population
29,797
Median Income
$233,333
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
41.6
Poverty Rate
1.8%
Labor force participation
67.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
68.1%

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
29,000 residents29,500 residents30,000 residents30,500 residents31,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 30,649 residents 29,261 residents ▼ -4.5%
San Carlos's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
23
housing units authorized
Single-Family
23
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 36
2020 32
2021 46
2022 56
2023 26
2024 23

Permit volume decreased 36% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.2 minutes
Drive Alone
54.1%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
3.7%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
32.5%
Other
4.2%

Based on 15,854 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 San Carlos sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,604/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Monterey
29,772 people
Atascadero
29,735 people
San Lorenzo
29,453 people
Eastern Goleta Valley
29,411 people
Saratoga
30,335 people
Suisun City
29,205 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to San Carlos's 29,797 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rahway, NJ
29,748 people
Gloucester, MA
29,862 people
Crofton, MD
29,878 people
Orchards, WA
29,716 people
Hazleton, PA
29,886 people
Algonquin, IL
29,904 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to San Carlos's $233,333 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bow Mar, CO
$233,667 median income
Belmont, VA
$232,879 median income
East Rocky Hill, NJ
$232,727 median income
Windsor, FL
$234,096 median income
Booth, WV
$234,097 median income
New Albany, OH
$232,524 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 59.4% 21.9% 13.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.7% White 59.4% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 21.9% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.8% Some other race 3.6% Two or more races 13.2% 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 San Carlos 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
San Carlos (this city) 29,797 $233,333
Monterey 29,772 $104,110
Atascadero 29,735 $88,830
San Lorenzo 29,453 $110,495
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about San Carlos, CA?

What is the population of San Carlos, CA? +

San Carlos, CA counts 29,797 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In San Carlos, the typical household earns $233,333 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in San Carlos? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for San Carlos; 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 San Carlos, CA? +

The median home value in San Carlos is $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.