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Economy, jobs and prices in San Diego, California: official figures

The median household income in San Diego was $108,077 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 179th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$108,077
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
6.0%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
23.5 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$2,313
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$906,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
47.3%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
95.2%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in San Diego?

Income per resident (per capita income) in San Diego averaged $57,083 a year in 2020-2024, 143rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in San Diego?

San Diego's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.463 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 286th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in San Diego, California?

6.0% of the civilian labor force in San Diego was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (45,046 people), 274th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Diego are working?

68.1% of San Diego's 1,161,785 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 263rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Diego have jobs?

710,847 residents of San Diego held civilian jobs, 61.2% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 35,497 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in San Diego?

The largest industry group for working residents of San Diego was education, health care and social assistance (23.1% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (19.7%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (10.4%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in San Diego work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 10.1% of working residents of San Diego, 323rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 19.7% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in San Diego, California?

Commuters in San Diego took 23.5 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 339th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.5% travelled an hour or more and 21.7% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in San Diego get to work?

21.2% of workers living in San Diego worked from home in 2020-2024, 175th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 62.6% drove to work alone, 7.7% carpooled, 2.7% used public transport and 3.4% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in San Diego, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in San Diego was $2,313 a month in 2020-2024, 78th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in San Diego?

Owner-occupied homes in San Diego had a median value of $906,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 63rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in San Diego?

The median home value in San Diego was 8.4 times the median household income, 63rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in San Diego, California own their home?

47.3% of the 530,412 occupied homes in San Diego were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 279,312 were rented, 157th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in San Diego have broadband?

95.2% of households in San Diego had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 173rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in San Diego have no internet?

3.3% of households in San Diego (17,694) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 234th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 9.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How San Diego compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 179 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
176West Jordan$108,153
177Chandler$108,095
178Berkeley$108,092
179San Diego$108,077
180Chula Vista$108,032
181Norwalk$107,616
182Framingham$107,419
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 143 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
140Lakeville$57,291
141West Des Moines$57,275
142Eagan$57,112
143San Diego$57,083
144Portland$57,029
145Wellington$57,019
146Farmington Hills$56,976
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 286 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
283Long Beach0.463
284Flint0.463
285Tustin0.463
286San Diego0.463
287Portland0.463
288East Orange0.463
289Billings0.463
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 274 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
271Garden Grove6.0%
272Tinley Park6.0%
273Auburn6.0%
274San Diego6.0%
275McAllen6.0%
276Port St. Lucie6.0%
277Minneapolis5.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 263 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
260Marietta68.2%
261Bend68.2%
262Kenosha68.2%
263San Diego68.1%
264Draper68.1%
265Clarksville68.1%
266Garland68.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 485 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
482Cupertino23.6
483Richardson23.6
484Porterville23.5
485San Diego23.5
486Perth Amboy23.5
487Wilmington23.5
488Virginia Beach23.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 175 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
172Shawnee21.4%
173Boston21.3%
174Glendale21.2%
175San Diego21.2%
176Elk Grove21.2%
177Quincy21.2%
178Tempe21.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 196 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
193New Bedford2.7%
194Spokane2.7%
195Santa Ana2.7%
196San Diego2.7%
197Deerfield Beach2.6%
198Milford2.6%
199Portland2.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 323 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
320Layton10.1%
321Olathe10.1%
322Auburn10.1%
323San Diego10.1%
324Danbury10.0%
325Carson City10.0%
326Perth Amboy10.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 394 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
391Georgetown23.2%
392Louisville/Jefferson County metro government23.2%
393Irvine23.2%
394San Diego23.1%
395San Antonio23.1%
396Lenexa23.1%
397Huntington Beach23.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 78 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
75Chino$2,336
76Bowie$2,330
77Orange$2,327
78San Diego$2,313
79Oceanside$2,303
80Gilroy$2,301
81Vacaville$2,299
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 63 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
60Los Angeles$921,200
61Placentia$921,000
62Somerville$911,300
63San Diego$906,700
64Fullerton$902,600
65Diamond Bar$902,200
66Hoboken$895,100
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 60 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
57Whittier8.5x
58Tustin8.4x
59San Jose8.4x
60San Diego8.4x
61Cambridge8.4x
62Diamond Bar8.3x
63San Leandro8.3x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 667 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
664Hempstead47.5%
665Chapel Hill47.4%
666Fayetteville47.4%
667San Diego47.3%
668Waterbury47.2%
669Boulder47.2%
670Iowa City47.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 173 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
170Placentia95.2%
171Burleson95.2%
172Orange95.2%
173San Diego95.2%
174Rockville95.2%
175Arlington Heights95.2%
176Vista95.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

San Diego ranks 590 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
587Austin3.3%
588Fullerton3.3%
589San Mateo3.3%
590San Diego3.3%
591Kent3.3%
592Royal Oak3.3%
593Santa Barbara3.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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