National City, California Income Statistics
National City Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
National City Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,172 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,282 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.0% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in National City is about 32% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in National City (6.1%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 6% of adults in National City earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in National City, California grew by 84.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,172 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in National City
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.545 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,593 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,098 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.8% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In National City, it is 0.545, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in National City, California. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $297,325 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in National City, California has narrowed from about 23% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 4% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $693 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | National City | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,843 people are unemployed in National City, California.
The average commute time in National City is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in National City, California has fallen from 10.3% to 6.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.8% in 2019.
National City, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
National City, CA is the 2nd largest of the 4 cities compared here, 57,784 residents against a local median of 28,050. National City, CA's median household income, at $67,172, runs 25% below the $89,238 typical of the cities around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread $21,599 on median household income, so National City, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. National City, CA has the 4th highest median household income of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National City, CA | 57,784 | $67,172 #4/4 | 6.1%/yr #3/4 | 6.0% #2/4 | 0.545 #3/4 |
| Chula Vista, CA | 265,525 | $105,666 | 6.2%/yr | 7.7% | 0.571 |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 28,050 | $89,238 | 5.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.529 |
| Imperial Beach, CA | 25,196 | $84,067 | 7.4%/yr | 6.5% | 0.538 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, National City, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in National City, California.
How Rich Is National City, California?
National City has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,172, about 32% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in National City, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in National City, California rose 84%, from $36,473 to $67,172. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +84% against +64%.
What was the median household income in National City in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in National City, California was $64,207, up 7% from $60,044 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in National City in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in National City, California was $48,509. By 2024 it had risen 38% to $67,172.
What is the Gini coefficient in National City, California?
The Gini coefficient in National City is 0.545. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in National City, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in National City, California has narrowed from about 23% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 4% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $693 since 2009.
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