Capitola, Santa Cruz County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Capitola, 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 Capitola, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Capitola, California. The estimated population of Capitola, California is 10,041 people, with a median age of 47.3.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
10,041
-0.49% -1.15%
2020
10,090
-0.31% -
2019
10,121
-0.14% -
2018
10,135
-0.23% -
2017
10,158
- -

Population of Capitola, 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
66%
63.1%
+4.60%
Black/African American
0.2%
0.5%
-60.00%
Native
0.4%
0.1%
+300.00%
Hispanic
23.3%
26.8%
-13.06%
Asian
6.3%
4.3%
+46.51%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.8%
5.2%
-26.92%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

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 Capitola, 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 47.3 +4.42% 44.2 +4% 49.5 +0.81%
2020 45.3 +7.35% 42.5 +6.78% 49.1 +7.68%
2019 42.2 -1.17% 39.8 +0.25% 45.6 +1.33%
2018 42.7 +1.67% 39.7 +8.77% 45 -0.66%
2017 42 - 36.5 - 45.3 -

The median age of Capitola, 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 9 655 -44.04% 444 -12.42% 402 364
10 to 19 523 -17.94% 556 +1.03% 417 557
20 to 29 694 -12.58% 668 -12.47% 582 580
30 to 39 759 -20.91% 544 +26.55% 597 689
40 to 49 375 +72.55% 727 -17.27% 698 587
50 to 59 871 -3.02% 661 +45.68% 831 943
60 to 69 503 +26.6% 823 -10.8% 647 722
70+ 484 -8.61% 871 +17.97% 436 989

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Capitola, California is $83,726.00.

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 Capitola.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $77,000.00
  • 45 to 64
    $107,650.00
  • 65 and over
    $56,736.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Capitola, 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 Capitola, California is currently $117,345.00.

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.

12.26% of households in Capitola 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 Capitola against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    13.38%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    12.74%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    16.69%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    14.76%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19.05%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    11.13%
  • $200,000 or more
    12.26%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Capitola is $54,673.00.

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

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

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Capitola 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
    19.05%
  • Bachelor's degree
    45.65%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.80%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    23.42%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.08%

Employment

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

The total population of Capitola over the age of 16 is 8,724.

Of those people, a total of 63.40% 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 Capitola is 61.40%.

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 423 22.90% 12.40%
20 to 24 years 570 78.80% 10.90%
25 to 29 years 592 86.70% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 571 90.20% 8.50%
35 to 44 years 1,377 69.60% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 1,523 89.40% 0.40%
55 to 59 years 874 83.50% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 552 60.10% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 1,375 40.10% 11.60%
75 years and over 867 2.90% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Capitola. 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 7,121 63.50% 3.50%
Black or African American 24 75.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 59 39.00% 0.00%
Asian 634 66.90% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 26 100.00% 0.00%
Other 504 60.50% 0.00%
Two or more races 356 60.10% 7.50%
Hispanic or Latino 1,865 70.10% 0.50%
Not Hispanic or Latino 5,943 61.50% 4.20%

Occupations

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

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Capitola is 5,357, with median earnings of $56,001.00.

Women in Capitola, California earning approximately 89.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 5,357 $56,001.00
Male 2,696 $60,036.00
Female 2,661 $53,646.00

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 723 $137,891.00
Business and Financial 437 $84,149.00
Computer and Mathematical 239 $44,421.00
Architecture and Engineering 32 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 56 $78,816.00
Community and Social Service 64 $38,750.00
Legal 16 $0.00
Educational and Library 502 $55,902.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 144 $103,587.00
Healthcare Practitioners 317 $60,341.00
Healthcare Support 130 $35,278.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 31 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 437 $24,135.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 180 $31,080.00
Personal Care and Service 97 $10,045.00
Sales 719 $67,005.00
Office and Administrative Support 611 $22,583.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 18 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 194 $47,974.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 94 $54,688.00
Production 133 $55,982.00
Transportation and Material Moving 170 $30,800.00

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 372 $138,438.00 351 $126,771.00
Business and Financial 339 $83,878.00 98 $222,813.00
Computer and Mathematical 198 $78,558.00 41 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 32 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 19 $0.00 37 $0.00
Community and Social Service 29 $0.00 35 $0.00
Legal 16 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 85 $31,506.00 417 $57,070.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 23 $0.00 121 $57,420.00
Healthcare Practitioners 224 $60,545.00 93 $54,598.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 130 $35,278.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 31 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 145 $45,739.00 292 $23,385.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 96 $33,333.00 84 $30,114.00
Personal Care and Service 28 $0.00 69 $6,797.00
Sales 360 $55,429.00 359 $80,935.00
Office and Administrative Support 122 $22,974.00 489 $19,426.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 18 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 194 $47,974.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 78 $76,000.00 16 $0.00
Production 133 $55,982.00 0 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 141 $32,250.00 29 $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 4,656 households in Capitola, with an average household size of 2.12 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 2,369 families in Capitola with an average family size of 2.75 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 1,760 117 492 2,287
Average Household Size 2.79 3.35 2.79 1.39
Total Families 1,760 117 492 0
Average Household Size 2.79 2.87 2.59 0

Poverty

Of the 2,369 families in Capitola, 10.30% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Capitola:

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 5,147 housing units in Capitola, California.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,656 90.46%
Vacant 491 9.54%

44.88% of the total 5,147 housing units in Capitola are rental units. This is approximately 2,310 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 2,185 are occupied by the owner - or 42.45% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Capitola is $2,062.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Capitola 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
    161
  • Less than $500
    20
  • $500 to $999
    58
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    259
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    759
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    479
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    320
  • $3,000 or more
    415

Property Value

The median value of a property in Capitola is $706,600.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    0
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    15
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    95
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    38
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    56
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    310
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    1,011
  • $1,000,000 or more
    660

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    438
  • 1940 to 1949
    251
  • 1950 to 1959
    385
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,131
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,032
  • 1980 to 1989
    733
  • 1990 to 1999
    590
  • 2000 to 2009
    363
  • 2010 to 2013
    224
  • 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 Capitola that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    158
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,070
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,848
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    580

Commuting to Work

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

22.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Capitola.

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
    215
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    653
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    716
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    747
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    609
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    228
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    458
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    0
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    82
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    333
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    159
  • 90 or more minutes
    80

Summary

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