Santa Clara County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Santa Clara County, California. The estimated population of Santa Clara County, California is 1,932,022 people, with a median age of 37.5.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
1,932,022
+0.4%
+1.09%
2020
1,924,379
 -0.16% -
2019
1,927,470
+0.27%
-
2018
1,922,200
+0.57%
-
2017
1,911,226
 - -

Population of Santa Clara 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
29.9%
32.6%
 -8.28%
Black/African American
2.3%
2.4%
 -4.17%
Native
0.2%
0.2%
 0.00%
Hispanic
25.1%
26.1%
 -3.83%
Asian
37.9%
34.9%
 +8.60%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.3%
0.3%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.9%
3.3%
 +18.18%
Other
0.4%
0.2%
 +100.00%

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 Santa Clara 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 37.5 +0.81% 36.5 +1.11% 38.5 +0.26%
2020 37.2 +0.27% 36.1 +0.28% 38.4 +0.26%
2019 37.1 +0.27% 36 +0.28% 38.3 +0.52%
2018 37 0% 35.9 0% 38.1 0%
2017 37 - 35.9 - 38.1 -

The median age of Santa Clara 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 9 125,038 -7.02% 117,081 -7.56% 116,482 108,487
10 to 19 120,551 +2.59% 116,713 +1.43% 123,677 118,335
20 to 29 142,648 +0.07% 125,617 -0.4% 142,676 125,089
30 to 39 151,176 +6.76% 140,920 +1.22% 161,666 142,626
40 to 49 141,275 -2.74% 137,988 -4.26% 137,425 132,220
50 to 59 128,023 +1.08% 125,476 -0.07% 129,352 125,396
60 to 69 84,468 +12.6% 90,961 +6.53% 95,621 97,041
70+ 70,138 +9.35% 93,153 +6.21% 76,925 99,004

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Santa Clara County, California is $140,258.00.

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 Santa Clara County.

  • Under 25
    $70,210.00
  • 25 to 44
    $165,418.00
  • 45 to 64
    $160,420.00
  • 65 and over
    $78,813.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, California is currently $189,352.00.

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.

33.86% of households in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    8.42%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    9.08%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    9.65%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.10%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.60%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    13.29%
  • $200,000 or more
    33.86%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Santa Clara County is $65,052.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara 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
    29.37%
  • Bachelor's degree
    42.62%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    6.14%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    18.64%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.22%

Employment

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

The total population of Santa Clara County over the age of 16 is 1,558,810.

Of those people, a total of 67.70% 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 Santa Clara County is 64.60%.

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 93,769 27.70% 10.30%
20 to 24 years 115,669 70.40% 8.70%
25 to 29 years 152,096 86.40% 4.70%
30 to 34 years 157,486 86.70% 3.10%
35 to 44 years 281,575 84.70% 3.20%
45 to 54 years 264,516 84.50% 4.20%
55 to 59 years 125,108 76.90% 4.60%
60 to 64 years 106,702 64.80% 4.80%
65 to 74 years 149,145 31.10% 4.40%
75 years and over 112,744 6.20% 4.80%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Santa Clara 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 632,942 65.30% 4.10%
Black or African American 39,005 70.10% 7.80%
American Indian and Alaska Native 9,304 65.00% 8.10%
Asian 605,217 68.70% 4.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 5,134 74.20% 8.40%
Other 144,492 72.20% 5.20%
Two or more races 122,716 69.20% 5.80%
Hispanic or Latino 360,276 70.90% 4.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 501,218 63.80% 4.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County is 1,007,768, with median earnings of $69,062.00.

Women in Santa Clara County, California earning approximately 63.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 1,007,768 $69,062.00
Male 566,972 $85,854.00
Female 440,796 $54,458.00

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 137,461 $136,338.00
Business and Financial 68,445 $97,402.00
Computer and Mathematical 131,305 $152,545.00
Architecture and Engineering 70,558 $138,287.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 18,564 $94,650.00
Community and Social Service 11,720 $60,831.00
Legal 11,813 $134,620.00
Educational and Library 56,107 $47,308.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 20,927 $63,828.00
Healthcare Practitioners 43,573 $94,949.00
Healthcare Support 30,904 $30,899.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 10,159 $35,503.00
Law Enforcement 3,505 $107,691.00
Food Preparation and Serving 42,720 $22,679.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 28,980 $30,797.00
Personal Care and Service 24,125 $20,198.00
Sales 76,622 $42,037.00
Office and Administrative Support 83,582 $45,096.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 3,441 $24,682.00
Construction and Extraction 36,831 $48,347.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 17,849 $54,313.00
Production 39,400 $43,163.00
Transportation and Material Moving 20,495 $42,770.00

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 82,895 $160,761.00 54,566 $109,762.00
Business and Financial 29,464 $108,655.00 38,981 $88,180.00
Computer and Mathematical 99,482 $158,829.00 31,823 $130,031.00
Architecture and Engineering 56,062 $145,905.00 14,496 $112,287.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 8,983 $104,876.00 9,581 $88,240.00
Community and Social Service 3,920 $63,434.00 7,800 $57,783.00
Legal 5,177 $189,081.00 6,636 $106,171.00
Educational and Library 17,181 $62,472.00 38,926 $42,767.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 10,758 $68,991.00 10,169 $58,512.00
Healthcare Practitioners 12,534 $108,434.00 31,039 $88,409.00
Healthcare Support 6,715 $31,338.00 24,189 $30,794.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 7,666 $36,287.00 2,493 $30,850.00
Law Enforcement 2,758 $109,167.00 747 $96,938.00
Food Preparation and Serving 22,437 $25,214.00 20,283 $20,527.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 17,007 $35,527.00 11,973 $24,611.00
Personal Care and Service 5,033 $21,586.00 19,092 $20,006.00
Sales 40,862 $56,690.00 35,760 $29,650.00
Office and Administrative Support 26,640 $44,128.00 56,942 $45,769.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 2,162 $30,481.00 1,279 $20,595.00
Construction and Extraction 36,081 $48,335.00 750 $49,545.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 17,041 $54,374.00 808 $53,686.00
Production 25,185 $46,878.00 14,215 $37,391.00
Transportation and Material Moving 17,630 $43,878.00 2,865 $35,421.00

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 646,847 households in Santa Clara County, with an average household size of 2.93 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 460,297 families in Santa Clara County with an average family size of 3.41 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 363,040 33,481 63,776 186,550
Average Household Size 3.49 3.63 3.66 1.47
Total Families 363,040 33,481 63,776 0
Average Household Size 3.44 3.19 3.39 0

Poverty

Of the 460,297 families in Santa Clara County, 4.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Santa Clara 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 683,510 housing units in Santa Clara County, California.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 646,847 94.64%
Vacant 36,663 5.36%

40.53% of the total 683,510 housing units in Santa Clara County are rental units. This is approximately 277,024 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 363,104 are occupied by the owner - or 53.12% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Santa Clara County is $2,530.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Santa Clara 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
    6,719
  • Less than $500
    8,053
  • $500 to $999
    12,497
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    21,061
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    39,711
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    54,029
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    51,850
  • $3,000 or more
    89,823

Property Value

The median value of a property in Santa Clara County is $1,134,400.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    4,512
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    2,886
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    4,108
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    3,202
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    6,305
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    12,141
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    113,084
  • $1,000,000 or more
    216,866

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    33,540
  • 1940 to 1949
    23,886
  • 1950 to 1959
    96,920
  • 1960 to 1969
    122,687
  • 1970 to 1979
    146,931
  • 1980 to 1989
    81,431
  • 1990 to 1999
    65,534
  • 2000 to 2009
    60,639
  • 2010 to 2013
    50,906
  • 2014 or later
    1,036

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 Santa Clara County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    34,930
  • 1 vehicle available
    181,895
  • 2 vehicles available
    258,298
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    171,724

Commuting to Work

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

28.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Santa Clara 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
    11,555
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    43,848
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    89,003
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    131,870
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    136,714
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    56,844
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    140,161
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    23,591
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    38,672
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    74,924
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    56,152
  • 90 or more minutes
    23,884

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County, California

We have data for 30 places in Santa Clara County, California. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.