County · California

Santa Clara County, California

Santa Clara County, California. Santa Clara County had 1,914,391 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). It holds 24 places (15 cities, villages and boroughs and 9 census-designated) and 408 census tracts. GEOID 06085.

Santa Clara County is one of the 2 counties of the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,914,391

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,936,259 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,902,047

Median household income

$164,281

±$1,955 (90% margin)
California: $99,122

Median home value

$1,490,600

±$14,163 (90% margin)
California: $734,700

Median gross rent

$2,857

±$19 (90% margin)
California: $2,036

How many people live in Santa Clara County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 1,936,259 residents in Santa Clara County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,914,391 for July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,902,047 over 1,291 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −48,821 (1,882,528)
2021→2022 −2,377 (1,880,151)
2022→2023 +10,226 (1,890,377)
2023→2024 +17,533 (1,907,910)
2024→2025 +6,481 (1,914,391)

Santa Clara County in California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Santa Clara County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	1,902,047	39,287,377	−25,423
Households	659,353±1,829	13,548,091	+19,138
Average household size	2.82±0.01	2.84	−0.13
Housing units	698,837±290	14,644,735	+26,342

Santa Clara County's population since 2000

From 1,682,585 in 2000 to 1,914,391 in 2025: up 13.8%. 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 1,682,585
2005 (estimate) 1,675,312
2010 Census 1,781,642
2015 (estimate) 1,915,736
2020 Census 1,936,259
2025 (estimate) 1,914,391

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 Santa Clara County?

Santa Clara County holds 24 places: 15 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 9 census-designated places. The largest is San Jose with 989,814 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 Santa Clara County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

San Jose	city	1,013,240	990,138±103	$146,427	$1,233,200	8.1%	100%
Sunnyvale	city	155,805	154,236±68	$186,170	$1,801,800	5.8%	100%
Santa Clara	city	127,647	130,256±69	$178,958	$1,582,600	8.4%	100%
Mountain View, Santa Clara County	city	82,376	83,732±46	$189,917	$1,927,000	6.0%	100%
Milpitas	city	80,273	78,578±64	$178,798	$1,251,700	5.9%	100%
Palo Alto	city	68,572	67,237±73	$231,101	$2,000,000 or more	6.0%	100%
Cupertino	city	60,381	58,566±50	$234,707	$2,000,000 or more	4.1%	100%
Gilroy	city	59,520	59,004±45	$133,107	$1,027,400	6.7%	100%
Morgan Hill	city	45,483	45,425±53	$163,920	$1,210,200	4.1%	100%
Campbell	city	43,959	42,781±42	$145,268	$1,617,000	5.6%	100%
Los Gatos	town	33,529	32,786±41	$217,554	$2,000,000 or more	4.2%	100%
Los Altos	city	31,625	30,698±67	$250,000 or more	$2,000,000 or more	3.2%	100%
Saratoga	city	31,051	30,319±85	$250,000 or more	$2,000,000 or more	3.3%	100%
Stanford	CDP	21,150	18,662±967	$75,208	$2,000,000 or more	15.9%	100%
Alum Rock	CDP	12,042	10,440±1,158	$126,705	$909,500	6.2%	100%
Los Altos Hills	town	8,489	8,377±75	$250,000 or more	$2,000,000 or more	7.3%	100%
San Martin	CDP	7,008	6,954±805	$158,250	$1,430,600	7.9%	100%
East Foothills	CDP	6,803	7,139±1,022	$199,375	$1,346,100	5.5%	100%
Burbank, Santa Clara County	CDP	4,940	5,333±836	$134,518	$1,104,600	11.1%	100%
Cambrian Park	CDP	3,719	3,494±548	$192,731	$2,000,000 or more	5.5%	100%
Loyola	CDP	3,491	3,430±374	$250,000 or more	$2,000,000 or more	3.7%	100%
Monte Sereno	city	3,479	3,461±47	$250,000 or more	$2,000,000 or more	1.2%	100%
Lexington Hills	CDP	2,492	2,692±463	$248,750	$1,215,900	3.3%	100%
FruitdaleGEOID 0627080	CDP	989	986±474	$182,889	$1,581,200	9.7%	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 Santa Clara County?

The median resident of Santa Clara County is 38.1 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Asian residents at 40.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 27.2%. 41.5% 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	Santa Clara County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	38.1±0.1	37.9	+1.0
Under 18 years	20.5%	22.0%	–
65 years and over	14.8%	15.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	25.0%	40.2%	−0.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	27.2%±0.1 pts	33.8%	−4.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	2.2%±0.1 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	40.3%±0.1 pts	15.3%	+4.0 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.2%±0.2 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.1 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	41.5%±0.3 pts	27.0%	+2.3 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	55.2%±0.4 pts	44.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	2.6%±0.1 pts	4.3%	–
With a disability	9.0%±0.1 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.9%±0.1 pts	6.6%	−0.4 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.3%±0.2 pts	84.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	56.5%±0.4 pts	37.1%	+4.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	28.3%±0.3 pts	14.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.5%±0.1 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 Santa Clara County earn?

Half of Santa Clara County's 659,353 households earn less than $164,281 a year (±$1,955), against $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $152,674 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $11,607 after inflation. 7.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Clara County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$164,281±$1,955	$99,122	+$11,607
Mean household income	$227,007±$2,072	$140,436	–
Per capita income	$80,312±$714	$49,513	+$11,088
People below the poverty line	7.1%±0.3 pts	12.0%	−0.4 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	7.0%±0.6 pts	15.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	6.6%±0.2 pts	12.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	95.6%±0.2 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 Santa Clara County?

Owners occupy 55.1% of Santa Clara County's occupied homes and renters 44.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,490,600 by its owner (±$14,163). The median renter pays $2,857 a month including utilities, and 36.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Clara County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$1,490,600±$14,163	$734,700	+$279,597
Median gross rent	$2,857±$19	$2,036	+$66
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.4%±0.8 pts	46.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$4,000 or more	$2,946	–
Owner-occupied homes	55.1%±0.5 pts	55.9%	−1.3 pts
Housing units	698,837±290	14,644,735	+26,342
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.7%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.1%±0.4 pts	4.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	50.7%±0.4 pts	57.0%	–
Mobile homes	2.8%±0.1 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.5%±0.1 pts	1.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	4.7%±0.2 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 Santa Clara County building?

Builders took permits for 5,323 new housing units across Santa Clara County in 2025 (1,795 single-family), 2.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 5,496 units
2020 5,357 units
2021 4,044 units
2022 9,074 units
2023 5,834 units
2024 3,834 units
2025 5,323 units

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

How do people in Santa Clara County get to work?

59.9% of Santa Clara County's workers drive alone and 23.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Clara County	California	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	67.4%±0.3 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.9%±0.2 pts	6.6%	+0.6 pts
Drove alone to work	59.9%±0.4 pts	65.7%	–
Carpooled	9.0%±0.3 pts	9.5%	–
Public transportation	2.3%±0.1 pts	2.9%	–
Walked	2.1%±0.1 pts	2.4%	–
Worked from home	23.9%±0.5 pts	17.2%	+18.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.2 min±0.2	28.7 min	−3.1 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 are Santa Clara County's census tracts?

Santa Clara County is divided into 408 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $42,824 (Tract 5116.08) to $250,000 or more (Tract 5122).

All 408 census tracts of Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County compare with California's other counties?

Santa Clara County's rank among California's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	6th of 58
Growth 2020-2025	30th of 58
Residents per square mile	8th of 58
Median household income	1st of 58
Median home value	3rd of 58
Median gross rent	2nd of 56
Poverty rate	54th of 57
Bachelor's degree or higher	3rd of 58
Median age	36th 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 Santa Clara 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.