San Diego County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for San Diego County, California, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in San Diego County, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in San Diego County, California. The estimated population of San Diego County, California is 3,296,317 people, with a median age of 36.3.

We can look at the total population in San Diego County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
3,296,317
 -0.83% +0.39%
2020
3,323,970
+0.24%
-
2019
3,316,073
+0.4%
-
2018
3,302,833
+0.58%
-
2017
3,283,665
 - -

Population of San Diego County, California by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
44.1%
46.2%
 -4.55%
Black/African American
4.6%
4.7%
 -2.13%
Native
0.3%
0.4%
 -25.00%
Hispanic
34.3%
33.4%
 +2.69%
Asian
11.7%
11.5%
 +1.74%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.4%
0.4%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
4.2%
3.3%
 +27.27%
Other
0.3%
0.2%
 +50.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of San Diego County, California by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 36.3 +0.55% 35.3 +1.44% 37.6 +0.27%
2020 36.1 +0.84% 34.8 +0.58% 37.5 +0.54%
2019 35.8 +0.56% 34.6 +0.87% 37.3 +0.81%
2018 35.6 +0.56% 34.3 +0.59% 37 +0.54%
2017 35.4 - 34.1 - 36.8 -

The median age of San Diego County, California gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 211,290 -5.34% 200,696 -5.39% 200,209 190,055
10 to 19 210,230 +1.67% 197,764 +1.15% 213,792 200,004
20 to 29 295,590 -6.86% 252,013 -6.57% 275,630 235,762
30 to 39 242,949 +6.75% 231,284 +5.08% 259,731 243,246
40 to 49 212,464 +0.83% 210,331 -2.59% 214,200 204,922
50 to 59 204,781 -1.51% 209,861 -3.34% 201,703 202,934
60 to 69 151,991 +9.61% 168,549 +5.12% 167,107 177,276
70+ 121,852 +11.01% 162,020 +7.26% 135,792 173,954

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of San Diego County, California is $88,240.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for San Diego County.

  • Under 25
    $49,279.00
  • 25 to 44
    $94,083.00
  • 45 to 64
    $104,265.00
  • 65 and over
    $65,555.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in San Diego County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in San Diego County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of San Diego County, California is currently $118,474.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

14.68% of households in San Diego County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of San Diego County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    12.64%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    15.35%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    15.00%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.60%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    18.93%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    10.79%
  • $200,000 or more
    14.68%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in San Diego County is $42,696.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of San Diego County by the total population of San Diego County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in San Diego County, California, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in San Diego County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    17.71%
  • Bachelor's degree
    41.25%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.75%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    26.52%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.77%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in San Diego County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of San Diego County over the age of 16 is 2,660,938.

Of those people, a total of 66.40% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in San Diego County is 59.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 168,681 35.00% 20.60%
20 to 24 years 240,936 76.70% 11.40%
25 to 29 years 270,456 84.90% 6.80%
30 to 34 years 264,425 85.00% 6.00%
35 to 44 years 453,317 84.10% 4.90%
45 to 54 years 406,200 82.40% 5.50%
55 to 59 years 202,794 75.20% 5.00%
60 to 64 years 189,265 58.90% 5.60%
65 to 74 years 276,452 27.50% 5.80%
75 years and over 188,412 6.40% 5.20%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in San Diego County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,687,904 65.50% 5.90%
Black or African American 131,547 66.80% 11.30%
American Indian and Alaska Native 22,054 65.40% 10.00%
Asian 334,290 65.40% 5.30%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 11,378 69.70% 7.00%
Other 209,874 70.00% 6.30%
Two or more races 263,891 69.90% 10.00%
Hispanic or Latino 838,909 69.60% 7.50%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,254,069 64.20% 5.70%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in San Diego County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in San Diego County is 1,572,927, with median earnings of $45,217.00.

Women in San Diego County, California earning approximately 73.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,572,927 $45,217.00
Male 845,622 $53,062.00
Female 727,305 $39,122.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 179,599 $85,383.00
Business and Financial 102,555 $72,014.00
Computer and Mathematical 70,601 $100,213.00
Architecture and Engineering 52,125 $100,019.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 30,169 $78,851.00
Community and Social Service 26,213 $48,287.00
Legal 21,574 $95,853.00
Educational and Library 86,380 $46,353.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 37,855 $43,754.00
Healthcare Practitioners 90,018 $77,198.00
Healthcare Support 50,774 $26,495.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 19,299 $37,803.00
Law Enforcement 13,346 $95,968.00
Food Preparation and Serving 95,028 $20,606.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 60,613 $24,412.00
Personal Care and Service 47,921 $20,812.00
Sales 160,914 $34,402.00
Office and Administrative Support 157,644 $38,338.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 6,095 $24,971.00
Construction and Extraction 71,870 $41,166.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 38,193 $50,196.00
Production 66,330 $36,672.00
Transportation and Material Moving 44,915 $37,087.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 107,079 $98,537.00 72,520 $68,555.00
Business and Financial 48,497 $81,348.00 54,058 $64,295.00
Computer and Mathematical 54,172 $104,395.00 16,429 $87,354.00
Architecture and Engineering 43,472 $102,763.00 8,653 $88,979.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 14,940 $87,215.00 15,229 $74,246.00
Community and Social Service 8,320 $49,347.00 17,893 $47,998.00
Legal 10,113 $138,345.00 11,461 $77,243.00
Educational and Library 25,826 $60,627.00 60,554 $40,093.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 20,088 $49,663.00 17,767 $39,270.00
Healthcare Practitioners 26,615 $88,934.00 63,403 $73,899.00
Healthcare Support 10,597 $29,825.00 40,177 $26,101.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 15,391 $41,982.00 3,908 $30,405.00
Law Enforcement 10,637 $100,421.00 2,709 $75,792.00
Food Preparation and Serving 49,125 $22,294.00 45,903 $17,778.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 36,793 $27,822.00 23,820 $18,902.00
Personal Care and Service 12,651 $24,673.00 35,270 $19,503.00
Sales 78,940 $45,326.00 81,974 $26,045.00
Office and Administrative Support 46,668 $39,614.00 110,976 $37,895.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 4,019 $26,303.00 2,076 $22,036.00
Construction and Extraction 70,262 $41,352.00 1,608 $30,042.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 36,435 $50,281.00 1,758 $45,869.00
Production 45,653 $41,275.00 20,677 $30,023.00
Transportation and Material Moving 38,289 $38,495.00 6,626 $30,532.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 1,139,899 households in San Diego County, with an average household size of 2.81 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 762,694 families in San Diego County with an average family size of 3.38 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 571,035 59,471 132,188 377,205
Average Household Size 3.46 3.52 3.65 1.42
Total Families 571,035 59,471 132,188 0
Average Household Size 3.42 3.1 3.36 0

Poverty

Of the 762,694 families in San Diego County, 7.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in San Diego County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 1,221,613 housing units in San Diego County, California.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 1,139,899 93.31%
Vacant 81,714 6.69%

41.83% of the total 1,221,613 housing units in San Diego County are rental units. This is approximately 510,988 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 616,193 are occupied by the owner - or 50.44% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in San Diego County is $1,842.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in San Diego County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    12,718
  • Less than $500
    14,941
  • $500 to $999
    30,275
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    107,605
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    150,230
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    100,516
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    54,097
  • $3,000 or more
    53,324

Property Value

The median value of a property in San Diego County is $627,200.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in San Diego County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    14,614
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    11,196
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    7,245
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6,236
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    21,275
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    136,423
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    322,306
  • $1,000,000 or more
    96,898

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in San Diego County. The chart below shows the number of properties in San Diego County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    50,876
  • 1940 to 1949
    41,034
  • 1950 to 1959
    127,906
  • 1960 to 1969
    145,854
  • 1970 to 1979
    271,337
  • 1980 to 1989
    227,258
  • 1990 to 1999
    148,757
  • 2000 to 2009
    144,386
  • 2010 to 2013
    62,303
  • 2014 or later
    1,902

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in San Diego County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    61,584
  • 1 vehicle available
    337,260
  • 2 vehicles available
    454,750
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    286,305

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in San Diego County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in San Diego County that commute to work in a particular way.

26.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in San Diego County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    19,279
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    94,862
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    177,521
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    238,910
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    242,703
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    104,014
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    227,891
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    45,965
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    59,163
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    106,085
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    70,220
  • 90 or more minutes
    30,299

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for San Diego County, California in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in San Diego County, California

We have data for 66 places in San Diego County, California. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.