County · California

San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo County, California. San Luis Obispo County had 282,367 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, about level with 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). It holds 30 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 23 census-designated) and 70 census tracts. GEOID 06079.

San Luis Obispo County is the county of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

282,367

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 282,424 · ACS 2020-2024: 281,555

Median household income

$97,446

±$2,876 (90% margin)
California: $99,122

Median home value

$824,700

±$12,237 (90% margin)
California: $734,700

Median gross rent

$1,992

±$45 (90% margin)
California: $2,036

How many people live in San Luis Obispo County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 282,424 residents in San Luis Obispo County. The Census Bureau estimates 282,367 for July 1, 2025, about level with 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 281,555 over 3,301 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −2,418 (279,839)
2021→2022 +2,908 (282,747)
2022→2023 −522 (282,225)
2023→2024 −72 (282,153)
2024→2025 +214 (282,367)

San Luis Obispo County in California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	San Luis Obispo County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	281,555	39,287,377	−610
Households	109,503±968	13,548,091	+3,522
Average household size	2.43±0.02	2.84	−0.08
Housing units	125,669±104	14,644,735	+3,664

San Luis Obispo County's population since 2000

From 246,681 in 2000 to 282,367 in 2025: up 14.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 246,681
2005 (estimate) 258,615
2010 Census 269,637
2015 (estimate) 280,138
2020 Census 282,424
2025 (estimate) 282,367

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in San Luis Obispo County?

San Luis Obispo County holds 30 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 23 census-designated places. The largest is San Luis Obispo with 50,636 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in San Luis Obispo County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

San Luis Obispo	city	47,063	48,491±43	$73,685	$935,100	30.4%	100%
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)	city	31,490	31,446±51	$92,228	$687,200	13.1%	100%
Atascadero	city	29,773	29,712±56	$91,429	$716,500	11.4%	100%
Arroyo Grande	city	18,441	18,372±35	$102,553	$814,200	4.8%	100%
Nipomo	CDP	18,176	17,516±1,517	$110,022	$723,700	5.7%	100%
Los Osos	CDP	14,465	14,166±1,061	$108,932	$805,800	8.1%	100%
Grover Beach	city	12,701	12,604±45	$86,458	$727,500	11.8%	100%
Morro Bay	city	10,757	10,692±25	$95,843	$918,200	8.4%	100%
California Polytechnic State UniversityGEOID 0609835	CDP	8,583	7,915±226	not published	$564,700	7.5%	100%
Templeton	CDP	8,386	9,580±1,147	$117,063	$810,400	4.2%	100%
Pismo Beach	city	8,072	8,014±28	$118,072	$1,021,300	6.9%	100%
Oceano	CDP	7,183	7,128±951	$71,598	$556,100	17.2%	100%
Cambria	CDP	5,678	5,978±679	$99,147	$930,200	10.5%	100%
San Miguel (San Luis Obispo County)	CDP	3,172	3,227±896	$95,458	$539,700	27.0%	100%
Lake Nacimiento	CDP	2,956	3,339±476	$91,615	$504,200	3.5%	100%
Cayucos	CDP	2,505	2,427±376	$87,235	$1,011,900	9.3%	100%
Woodlands	CDP	1,933	2,061±421	$136,618	$1,162,200	5.4%	100%
Avila BeachGEOID 0603330	CDP	1,576	1,303±559	$218,259	$1,243,300	4.8%	100%
Los RanchosGEOID 0644242	CDP	1,516	1,467±491	$121,800	$1,244,900	0.4%	100%
Santa Margarita	CDP	1,291	1,149±567	not published	$684,000	3.0%	100%
CallenderGEOID 0609948	CDP	1,282	2,230±872	$136,346	$945,400	16.5%	100%
ShandonGEOID 0671134	CDP	1,168	1,169±437	$107,273	$448,500	1.6%	100%
BlacklakeGEOID 0606935	CDP	1,016	983±308	$99,417	$825,600	0.8%	100%
Los BerrosGEOID 0644042	CDP	623	145±127	$250,000 or more	not published	13.1%	100%
Garden FarmsGEOID 0628210	CDP	449	241±194	not published	not published	37.3%	100%
San SimeonGEOID 0668434	CDP	445	217±153	$54,625	$442,900	6.5%	100%
Whitley GardensGEOID 0685222	CDP	325	244±182	$28,214	not published	68.0%	100%
Oak ShoresGEOID 0653160	CDP	316	128±87	$66,750	$525,000	33.6%	100%
EdnaGEOID 0621565	CDP	184	330±267	not published	$2,000,000 or more	0.0%	100%
CrestonGEOID 0617232	CDP	98	0±14	not published	not published	–	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in San Luis Obispo County?

The median resident of San Luis Obispo County is 40.4 years old; 17.5% are under 18 and 22.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 64.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 25.0%. 9.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	San Luis Obispo County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	40.4±0.3	37.9	+1.2
Under 18 years	17.5%±0.1 pts	22.0%	–
65 years and over	22.1%±0.1 pts	15.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	25.0%	40.2%	+2.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	64.5%±0.3 pts	33.8%	−4.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.1 pts	5.2%	−0.6 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	3.4%±0.2 pts	15.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.1%±0.3 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	9.9%±0.6 pts	27.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	17.5%±0.6 pts	44.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.3%±0.3 pts	4.3%	–
With a disability	13.3%±0.5 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.7%±0.6 pts	6.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.2%±0.6 pts	84.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	39.8%±1.0 pts	37.1%	+4.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	15.6%±0.7 pts	14.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.2 pts	1.1%	–

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 County earn?

Half of San Luis Obispo County's 109,503 households earn less than $97,446 a year (±$2,876), against $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $90,478 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,968 after inflation. 12.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	San Luis Obispo County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$97,446±$2,876	$99,122	+$6,968
Mean household income	$131,990±$5,863	$140,436	–
Per capita income	$51,592±$2,178	$49,513	+$5,770
People below the poverty line	12.9%±0.8 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	12.6%±1.9 pts	15.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	8.2%±0.8 pts	12.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	93.1%±0.7 pts	93.5%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 62.1% of San Luis Obispo County's occupied homes and renters 37.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $824,700 by its owner (±$12,237). The median renter pays $1,992 a month including utilities, and 48.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	San Luis Obispo County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$824,700±$12,237	$734,700	+$118,282
Median gross rent	$1,992±$45	$2,036	+$176
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	48.3%±2.2 pts	46.0%	+3.3 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$2,887±$45	$2,946	–
Owner-occupied homes	62.1%±1.0 pts	55.9%	no clear change
Housing units	125,669±104	14,644,735	+3,664
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.0%±0.6 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.6%±1.1 pts	4.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	67.8%±1.1 pts	57.0%	–
Mobile homes	7.7%±0.6 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.3%±0.2 pts	1.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	5.1%±0.5 pts	8.9%	–

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 County building?

Builders took permits for 663 new housing units across San Luis Obispo County in 2025 (642 single-family), 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 1,094 units
2020 911 units
2021 1,120 units
2022 1,111 units
2023 962 units
2024 1,104 units
2025 663 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in San Luis Obispo County get to work?

70.5% of San Luis Obispo County's workers drive alone and 15.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	San Luis Obispo County	California	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.2%±0.7 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	5.5%±0.5 pts	6.6%	+1.5 pts
Drove alone to work	70.5%±1.2 pts	65.7%	–
Carpooled	7.7%±0.7 pts	9.5%	–
Public transportation	0.6%±0.2 pts	2.9%	–
Walked	3.8%±0.4 pts	2.4%	–
Worked from home	15.2%±0.9 pts	17.2%	+7.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	22.3 min±0.7	28.7 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 are San Luis Obispo County's census tracts?

San Luis Obispo County is divided into 70 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $11,599 (Tract 109.03) to $157,316 (Tract 103.02).

All 70 census tracts of San Luis Obispo County, with their figures

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does San Luis Obispo County compare with California's other counties?

San Luis Obispo County's rank among California's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	24th of 58
Growth 2020-2025	23rd of 58
Residents per square mile	34th of 58
Median household income	20th of 58
Median home value	12th of 58
Median gross rent	17th of 56
Poverty rate	28th of 57
Bachelor's degree or higher	15th of 58
Median age	23rd of 58

Every county in California

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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.