San Luis Obispo, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,079 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2254.2 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.71% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 27.2 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 12,447 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in San Luis Obispo grew by 19.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 30,221 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
San Luis Obispo has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,482 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.64% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in San Luis Obispo is about 30% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,451,179 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,889 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 35.5% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in San Luis Obispo is about 64.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,889 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in San Luis Obispo spend about 25 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 105 hours, about 4.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 12.6 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 25.1 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 105 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,247 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 11,988 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,866 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in San Luis Obispo is 13 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
San Luis Obispo has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.31 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
San Luis Obispo has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | San Luis Obispo | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.1 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.7% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 11.4% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about San Luis Obispo, California.
What is the population of San Luis Obispo, California?
The population of San Luis Obispo, California is 31,079, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of San Luis Obispo, California?
The population density of San Luis Obispo, California is 2254.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in San Luis Obispo, California?
The median household income in San Luis Obispo, California is $67,482, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in San Luis Obispo, California?
The median home price in San Luis Obispo, California is $1,451,179, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo, California?
The unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo, California is 6.7%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.