Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Arroyo Grande, 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 Arroyo Grande, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Arroyo Grande, California. The estimated population of Arroyo Grande, California is 18,422 people, with a median age of 46.7.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
18,422
+2.78%
+2.51%
2020
17,924
-0.6% -
2019
18,033
-0.03% -
2018
18,039
+0.38%
-
2017
17,971
- -

Population of Arroyo Grande, 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
72%
73.7%
-2.31%
Black/African American
0.6%
0.7%
-14.29%
Native
0.4%
0.3%
+33.33%
Hispanic
17.6%
16.6%
+6.02%
Asian
3.8%
5.7%
-33.33%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.4%
0.5%
-20.00%
Two Or More Races
4.5%
2.4%
+87.50%
Other
0.8%
0.1%
+700.00%

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 Arroyo Grande, 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 46.7 +1.97% 43 +1.18% 48.3 +0.84%
2020 45.8 +2.69% 42.5 +0.24% 47.9 +2.13%
2019 44.6 -2.41% 42.4 -0.47% 46.9 -3.89%
2018 45.7 -3.79% 42.6 -3.4% 48.8 -4.69%
2017 47.5 - 44.1 - 51.2 -

The median age of Arroyo Grande, 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 9 795 -20.13% 999 +17.82% 637 1,185
10 to 19 1,162 +16.42% 946 +4.44% 1,354 985
20 to 29 981 +13.74% 551 +46.22% 1,103 812
30 to 39 881 -12.25% 1,083 -0.72% 766 1,071
40 to 49 1,107 1.15% 859 +30.49% 1,092 1,152
50 to 59 1,532 -12.79% 1,714 -22.31% 1,309 1,358
60 to 69 1,168 +3.04% 1,416 +5.12% 1,195 1,486
70+ 1,090 -3.09% 1,687 +12.24% 1,051 1,866

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Arroyo Grande, California is $90,405.00.

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 Arroyo Grande.

  • Under 25
    $96,021.00
  • 25 to 44
    $105,018.00
  • 45 to 64
    $107,240.00
  • 65 and over
    $60,445.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Arroyo Grande, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Arroyo Grande, 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 Arroyo Grande, California is currently $105,639.00.

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.

11.06% of households in Arroyo Grande 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 Arroyo Grande against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    12.51%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    13.63%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.61%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.14%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    22.90%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    10.15%
  • $200,000 or more
    11.06%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Arroyo Grande is $42,931.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Arroyo Grande by the total population of Arroyo Grande.

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

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Arroyo Grande 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
    12.96%
  • Bachelor's degree
    40.51%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    13.93%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    29.76%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.84%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Arroyo Grande that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Arroyo Grande over the age of 16 is 15,246.

Of those people, a total of 58.90% 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 Arroyo Grande is 57.50%.

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 985 55.50% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 1,096 84.50% 0.80%
25 to 29 years 819 76.20% 2.60%
30 to 34 years 826 81.20% 1.40%
35 to 44 years 2,062 83.50% 1.60%
45 to 54 years 2,187 77.30% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 1,673 83.30% 5.50%
60 to 64 years 1,206 62.70% 7.40%
65 to 74 years 2,526 24.00% 2.10%
75 years and over 1,866 2.70% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Arroyo Grande. 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 12,483 58.10% 2.40%
Black or African American 91 37.40% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 115 74.80% 3.50%
Asian 640 63.90% 4.60%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 56 57.10% 0.00%
Other 451 69.60% 4.10%
Two or more races 1,410 60.60% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 2,585 66.30% 0.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 11,209 56.70% 2.70%

Occupations

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

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Arroyo Grande is 8,770, with median earnings of $51,007.00.

Women in Arroyo Grande, California earning approximately 72.00% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 8,770 $51,007.00
Male 4,964 $57,292.00
Female 3,806 $41,244.00

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 1,132 $80,152.00
Business and Financial 635 $70,329.00
Computer and Mathematical 245 $92,159.00
Architecture and Engineering 136 $92,955.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 105 $132,813.00
Community and Social Service 163 $44,485.00
Legal 46 $133,333.00
Educational and Library 498 $76,111.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 173 $34,349.00
Healthcare Practitioners 478 $72,188.00
Healthcare Support 143 $24,083.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 85 $117,813.00
Law Enforcement 95 $76,438.00
Food Preparation and Serving 671 $16,297.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 330 $30,625.00
Personal Care and Service 193 $13,162.00
Sales 684 $52,679.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,413 $35,591.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 705 $56,928.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 212 $61,625.00
Production 280 $44,000.00
Transportation and Material Moving 157 $35,787.00

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 481 $82,188.00 651 $76,558.00
Business and Financial 289 $112,772.00 346 $58,654.00
Computer and Mathematical 236 $98,438.00 9 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 136 $92,955.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 60 $0.00 45 $76,442.00
Community and Social Service 45 $130,893.00 118 $33,542.00
Legal 0 $0.00 46 $133,333.00
Educational and Library 172 $77,656.00 326 $64,333.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 129 $34,974.00 44 $2,499.00
Healthcare Practitioners 189 $76,917.00 289 $54,740.00
Healthcare Support 35 $0.00 108 $31,875.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 85 $117,813.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 60 $76,250.00 35 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 484 $16,344.00 187 $14,712.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 212 $30,625.00 118 $25,000.00
Personal Care and Service 43 $0.00 150 $6,410.00
Sales 463 $51,659.00 221 $53,549.00
Office and Administrative Support 446 $35,692.00 967 $35,337.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 678 $60,000.00 27 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 212 $61,625.00 0 $0.00
Production 215 $43,375.00 65 $51,875.00
Transportation and Material Moving 157 $35,787.00 0 $0.00

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 7,376 households in Arroyo Grande, with an average household size of 2.47 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 4,921 families in Arroyo Grande with an average family size of 3.05 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 4,032 360 529 2,455
Average Household Size 3.08 3.41 3.29 1.15
Total Families 4,032 360 529 0
Average Household Size 3.06 2.74 3.16 0

Poverty

Of the 4,921 families in Arroyo Grande, 3.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Arroyo Grande:

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 8,035 housing units in Arroyo Grande, California.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 7,376 91.80%
Vacant 659 8.20%

30.84% of the total 8,035 housing units in Arroyo Grande are rental units. This is approximately 2,478 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 4,809 are occupied by the owner - or 59.85% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Arroyo Grande is $1,658.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Arroyo Grande 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
    89
  • Less than $500
    215
  • $500 to $999
    270
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    606
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    469
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    377
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    256
  • $3,000 or more
    285

Property Value

The median value of a property in Arroyo Grande is $636,500.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    83
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    71
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    81
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    192
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    961
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    2,881
  • $1,000,000 or more
    530

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    381
  • 1940 to 1949
    303
  • 1950 to 1959
    709
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,260
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,568
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,449
  • 1990 to 1999
    770
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,145
  • 2010 to 2013
    450
  • 2014 or later
    0

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 Arroyo Grande that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    366
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,180
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,611
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,219

Commuting to Work

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

21.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Arroyo Grande.

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
    306
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,054
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,402
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,192
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,365
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    750
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    862
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    111
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    226
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    466
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    35
  • 90 or more minutes
    211

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Arroyo Grande, 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.