City · California
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo, city, in San Luis Obispo County, California. San Luis Obispo had 50,636 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 47,063 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 48,491 (±43). GEOID 0668154.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
50,636
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 47,063 · ACS 2020-2024: 48,491 ±43
Median household income
$73,685
±$7,262 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$935,100
±$25,045 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,965
±$82 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is San Luis Obispo and what county is it in?
San Luis Obispo is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California. It covers 13.6 square miles of land, 3,450 residents per square mile in 2020.
San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 50,636 people lived in San Luis Obispo on July 1, 2025, up 7.5% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 47,063 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 48,491 (±43).
| Measure | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 48,491 ±43 | 281,555 | +1,189 |
| Households | 20,441 ±723 | 109,503 | +1,446 |
| Average household size | 2.31 ±0.08 | 2.43 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 22,250 ±663 | 125,669 | +1,483 |
San Luis Obispo's population since 2000
From 44,174 in 2000 to 50,636 in 2025: up 14.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo?
The median resident of San Luis Obispo is 26.3 years old; 10.3% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 69.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 18.4%. 8.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.3 ±1.2 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 10.3% ±0.9 pts | 17.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9% ±0.9 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Male | 48.7% ±1.4 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18.4% ±1.7 pts | 25.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 69.1% ±1.8 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±0.5 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.9 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.9 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.2% ±1.0 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 17.1% ±1.7 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.1% ±0.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.3% ±1.0 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.6% ±1.0 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.6% ±0.9 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 54.4% ±2.6 pts | 39.8% | +4.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 24.1% ±2.1 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 67.2% ±2.5 pts | 82.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.6% ±0.6 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 San Luis Obispo earn?
Half of San Luis Obispo's 20,441 households earn less than $73,685 a year (±$7,262), against $97,446 in San Luis Obispo County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $69,006 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,685 ±$7,262 | $97,446 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $115,549 ±$6,217 | $131,990 | – |
| Per capita income | $48,106 ±$2,697 | $51,592 | +$5,823 |
| People below the poverty line | 30.4% ±2.0 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.9% ±4.7 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.8% ±1.5 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0% ±1.0 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.7% ±1.5 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 San Luis Obispo?
Owners occupy 40.3% of San Luis Obispo's occupied homes and renters 59.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $935,100 by its owner (±$25,045). The median renter pays $1,965 a month including utilities, and 61.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $935,100 ±$25,045 | $824,700 | +$143,518 |
| Median gross rent | $1,965 ±$82 | $1,992 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 61.1% ±3.8 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,110 ±$164 | $2,887 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 40.3% ±2.0 pts | 62.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 59.7% ±2.0 pts | 37.9% | – |
| Housing units | 22,250 ±663 | 125,669 | +1,483 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.6% ±2.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% ±2.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 46.1% ±2.6 pts | 67.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% ±0.8 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.9% ±1.2 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.2% ±1.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.8% ±1.4 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 many new homes is San Luis Obispo building?
Builders took permits for 184 new housing units in San Luis Obispo in 2025 (178 in single-family houses), 3.6 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 Luis Obispo work and get to work?
63.8% of San Luis Obispo's workers drive alone and 17.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.
| Measure | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8% ±2.2 pts | 58.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% ±1.3 pts | 5.5% | +3.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 63.8% ±2.9 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.8% ±1.3 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 6.1% ±1.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.1% ±2.1 pts | 15.2% | +11.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.1 min ±1.0 | 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 San Luis Obispo?
11 census tracts lie mostly in San Luis Obispo, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,888 (Tract 112.01) to $124,938 (Tract 110.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 113San Luis Obispo County | 6,890 | $102,059 |
| Tract 109.02San Luis Obispo County | 4,846 | $48,537 |
| Tract 110.01San Luis Obispo County | 4,925 | $124,938 |
| Tract 112.02San Luis Obispo County | 4,399 | $62,970 |
| Tract 111.05San Luis Obispo County | 3,844 | $103,622 |
| Tract 112.01San Luis Obispo County | 4,675 | $46,888 |
| Tract 111.01San Luis Obispo County | 3,618 | $49,916 |
| Tract 111.03San Luis Obispo County | 3,214 | $62,074 |
| Tract 110.02San Luis Obispo County | 3,206 | $81,406 |
| Tract 111.04San Luis Obispo County | 1,952 | $84,559 |
| Tract 109.03San Luis Obispo County | 7,350 | $11,599 |
| Tract 115.01San Luis Obispo County | 1,742 | $90,673 |
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 Luis Obispo) · Census block assignment files
How does San Luis Obispo compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, San Luis Obispo is the 811th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 177th-most populous of 483 in California.
San Luis Obispo ranks 750th 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 | 177th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 34th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 388th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 750th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 439th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 258th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 425th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 46th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 193rd | 988 |
| Median age | 1,043rd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,002nd | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 376th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,027th | 1,069 |
San Luis Obispo's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo?
3 of the 57 figures for San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo.