City · California
San Diego, California
San Diego, city, in San Diego County, California. San Diego had 1,406,106 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,386,932 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,389,526 (±106). GEOID 0666000.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,406,106
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,386,932 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,389,526 ±106
Median household income
$108,077
±$1,463 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$906,700
±$6,879 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,313
±$18 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is San Diego and what county is it in?
San Diego is a city in San Diego County, California. It covers 326.1 square miles of land, 4,253 residents per square mile in 2020.
San Diego is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,406,106 people lived in San Diego on July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,386,932 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,389,526 (±106).
| Measure | San Diego | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,389,526 ±106 | 3,288,774 | −20,047 |
| Households | 530,412 ±2,344 | 1,171,278 | +22,832 |
| Average household size | 2.52 ±0.01 | 2.72 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 568,668 ±2,466 | 1,250,641 | +22,237 |
San Diego's population since 2000
From 1,223,400 in 2000 to 1,406,106 in 2025: up 14.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for San Diego as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 San Diego?
The median resident of San Diego is 36.2 years old; 18.4% are under 18 and 14.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 40.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 29.8%. 25.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | San Diego | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 ±0.2 | 37.3 | +1.3 |
| Under 18 years | 18.4% ±0.2 pts | 20.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.6% ±0.2 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±0.2 pts | 50.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 29.8% ±0.4 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 40.9% ±0.4 pts | 42.4% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.2 pts | 4.4% | −0.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 17.3% ±0.3 pts | 12.1% | +0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±0.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 25.1% ±0.4 pts | 22.8% | −1.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 39.0% ±0.5 pts | 37.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±0.2 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.5% ±0.3 pts | 11.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8% ±0.3 pts | 6.4% | −2.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.2% ±0.3 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 51.0% ±0.5 pts | 43.2% | +5.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.7% ±0.4 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.0% ±0.4 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.8% ±0.2 pts | 2.2% | – |
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 San Diego earn?
Half of San Diego's 530,412 households earn less than $108,077 a year (±$1,463), against $106,268 in San Diego County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $98,053 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,024 after inflation. 11.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | San Diego | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $108,077 ±$1,463 | $106,268 | +$10,024 |
| Mean household income | $144,973 ±$1,437 | $141,250 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,083 ±$582 | $51,976 | +$6,487 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.0% ±0.4 pts | 10.3% | −1.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.1% ±1.0 pts | 11.8% | −3.6 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.6% ±0.4 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.7% ±0.2 pts | 97.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.2% ±0.3 pts | 94.9% | – |
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 San Diego?
Owners occupy 47.3% of San Diego's occupied homes and renters 52.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $906,700 by its owner (±$6,879). The median renter pays $2,313 a month including utilities, and 44.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | San Diego | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $906,700 ±$6,879 | $854,700 | +$165,084 |
| Median gross rent | $2,313 ±$18 | $2,246 | +$227 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.7% ±0.8 pts | 47.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,252 ±$30 | $3,184 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 47.3% ±0.5 pts | 54.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 52.7% ±0.5 pts | 45.4% | – |
| Housing units | 568,668 ±2,466 | 1,250,641 | +22,237 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3% ±0.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 43.1% ±0.5 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% ±0.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±0.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.6% ±0.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.4% ±0.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.6% ±0.3 pts | 5.5% | – |
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 many new homes is San Diego building?
Builders took permits for 6,828 new housing units in San Diego in 2025 (819 in single-family houses), 4.9 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in San Diego work and get to work?
62.6% of San Diego's workers drive alone and 21.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.0%.
| Measure | San Diego | San Diego County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.1% ±0.3 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.0% ±0.2 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.6% ±0.5 pts | 65.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7% ±0.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.7% ±0.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Walked | 3.4% ±0.2 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 21.2% ±0.5 pts | 18.7% | +14.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.5 min ±0.2 | 25.5 min | −1.0 min |
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 San Diego?
322 census tracts lie mostly in San Diego, and 38 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $34,148 (Tract 100.05) to $250,000 or more (Tract 170.62).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 83.05San Diego County | 11,134 | $41,840 |
| Tract 170.65San Diego County | 10,415 | $212,083 |
| Tract 29.04San Diego County | 9,700 | $51,657 |
| Tract 215.02San Diego County | 9,517 | $181,644 |
| Tract 85.03San Diego County | 7,840 | $110,065 |
| Tract 83.28San Diego County | 7,814 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 25.02San Diego County | 7,231 | $92,210 |
| Tract 97.06San Diego County | 7,127 | $154,217 |
| Tract 83.66San Diego County | 7,106 | $207,135 |
| Tract 101.10San Diego County | 7,030 | $76,875 |
| Tract 27.03San Diego County | 7,111 | $83,469 |
| Tract 100.18San Diego County | 6,819 | $133,875 |
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 San Diego) · Census block assignment files
How does San Diego compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, San Diego is the 8th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 2nd-most populous of 483 in California.
San Diego ranks 378th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 2nd | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 118th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 298th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 378th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 297th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 277th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 268th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 432nd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 223rd | 988 |
| Median age | 727th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 937th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 269th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 803rd | 1,069 |
San Diego's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare San Diego 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 San Diego?
Every figure for San Diego on this page has a coefficient of variation under 40%, the Census Bureau's threshold for a usable estimate.
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 San Diego 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' public schools in San Diego.