City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Soquel, CA

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

10,691
Residents
$114,991
Median income
$908,500
Median home
$4,214
Median rent (state)

Soquel - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Soquel lands in the 85th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

85th
percentile, household income
96th
percentile, home value
100th
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: Soquel, CA

10,691 people live in Soquel, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Soquel households earn a median of $114,991 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.2%. Soquel's housing stock carries a median value of $908,500, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. About 44.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 4 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $4,214 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 97.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

10,691 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$114,991 /yr

Poverty 1.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Soquel compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 96% pricier than other cities
Median rent 100% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Soquel's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

85thIncome percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Soquel's home value compares nationally

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

$908,500 4th percentile more affordable than 4% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Soquel $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 - Soquel, CA Soquel, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Soquel, 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 Soquel, CA median $114,991/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%
Soquel, 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 Soquel, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 44.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.9%

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

Population
10,691
Median Income
$114,991
Median Home Value
$908,500
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
1.2%
Labor force participation
57.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
44.7%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.3%
Carpool
9.3%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
14.7%
Other
2.7%

Based on 4,789 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 Soquel sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$4,214/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Calimesa
10,680 people
Morro Bay
10,717 people
Sonoma
10,726 people
Placerville
10,730 people
Lake Arrowhead
10,746 people
Potomac Park
10,634 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Soquel's 10,691 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lexington, NE
10,693 people
Felida, WA
10,695 people
Kearney, MO
10,696 people
Fuller Heights, FL
10,697 people
Broomall, PA
10,684 people
Orono, ME
10,699 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Soquel's $114,991 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Menominee, IL
$115,000 median income
Grand Beach, MI
$115,000 median income
Shoal Creek Estates, MO
$115,000 median income
Bainville, MT
$115,000 median income
Franklin, TN
$115,000 median income
Cross Roads, TX
$115,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Soquel, 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 Soquel, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.8% 10.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.7% White 79.8% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 4.0% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.0% Two or more races 10.2% 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 Soquel 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
Soquel (this city) 10,691 $114,991
Calimesa 10,680 $90,313
Morro Bay 10,717 $92,553
Sonoma 10,726 $101,281
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Soquel, CA?

What is the population of Soquel, CA? +

10,691 people live in Soquel, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Soquel, CA? +

The median household income in Soquel is $114,991 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Soquel? +

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

Soquel's median home value sits at $908,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.