Economy, jobs and prices in San Luis Obispo, California: official figures
The median household income in San Luis Obispo was $73,685 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 335th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.
What is the per capita income in San Luis Obispo?
Income per resident (per capita income) in San Luis Obispo averaged $48,106 a year in 2020-2024, 258th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in San Luis Obispo?
San Luis Obispo's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.532 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 29th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo, California?
7.0% of the civilian labor force in San Luis Obispo was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (1,929 people), 158th 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 copyHow many people in San Luis Obispo have jobs?
25,720 residents of San Luis Obispo held civilian jobs, 58.3% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 24 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in San Luis Obispo?
The largest industry group for working residents of San Luis Obispo was education, health care and social assistance (26.1% of employed residents), followed by arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (17.0%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (15.1%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in San Luis Obispo work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 7.0% of working residents of San Luis Obispo, 257th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 15.1% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in San Luis Obispo, California?
Commuters in San Luis Obispo took 16.1 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 21st shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 2.5% travelled an hour or more and 54.8% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in San Luis Obispo get to work?
17.1% of workers living in San Luis Obispo worked from home in 2020-2024, 290th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 63.8% drove to work alone, 6.8% carpooled, 1.0% used public transport and 6.1% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in San Luis Obispo, California?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in San Luis Obispo was $1,965 a month in 2020-2024, 177th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in San Luis Obispo?
Owner-occupied homes in San Luis Obispo had a median value of $935,100 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 57th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in San Luis Obispo?
The median home value in San Luis Obispo was 12.7 times the median household income, 6th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in San Luis Obispo have no internet?
4.0% of households in San Luis Obispo (824) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 324th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 8.2% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow San Luis Obispo compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 489 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 486 | Las Vegas | $73,877 |
| 487 | Kannapolis | $73,836 |
| 488 | Billings | $73,712 |
| 489 | San Luis Obispo | $73,685 |
| 490 | Wyoming | $73,677 |
| 491 | Kennewick | $73,576 |
| 492 | Cathedral City | $73,572 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 258 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 255 | Pensacola | $48,536 |
| 256 | Little Elm | $48,310 |
| 257 | West Palm Beach | $48,223 |
| 258 | San Luis Obispo | $48,106 |
| 259 | Hoffman Estates | $48,050 |
| 260 | Warwick | $48,016 |
| 261 | Placentia | $48,006 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 29 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Fort Lauderdale | 0.535 |
| 27 | Delray Beach | 0.535 |
| 28 | Gainesville | 0.533 |
| 29 | San Luis Obispo | 0.532 |
| 30 | Boston | 0.531 |
| 31 | New Rochelle | 0.529 |
| 32 | Edina | 0.529 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 158 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 155 | Yucaipa | 7.0% |
| 156 | Bakersfield | 7.0% |
| 157 | Taylor | 7.0% |
| 158 | San Luis Obispo | 7.0% |
| 159 | Burien | 7.0% |
| 160 | Revere | 7.0% |
| 161 | Las Cruces | 7.0% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 593 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 590 | Pensacola | 62.8% |
| 591 | Peoria | 62.8% |
| 592 | Mission Viejo | 62.8% |
| 593 | San Luis Obispo | 62.8% |
| 594 | Deltona | 62.7% |
| 595 | Lodi | 62.7% |
| 596 | Eugene | 62.7% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 803 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | Lawton | 16.2 |
| 801 | Corvallis | 16.1 |
| 802 | Valdosta | 16.1 |
| 803 | San Luis Obispo | 16.1 |
| 804 | Cheyenne | 16.0 |
| 805 | Lake Havasu City | 15.9 |
| 806 | La Crosse | 15.9 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 290 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 287 | Santee | 17.3% |
| 288 | Eugene | 17.3% |
| 289 | Bethlehem | 17.2% |
| 290 | San Luis Obispo | 17.1% |
| 291 | Commerce City | 17.1% |
| 292 | Southfield | 17.0% |
| 293 | Burnsville | 17.0% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 430 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 427 | Mishawaka | 1.0% |
| 428 | Plymouth | 1.0% |
| 429 | Commerce City | 1.0% |
| 430 | San Luis Obispo | 1.0% |
| 431 | Lakeville | 1.0% |
| 432 | Rancho Cucamonga | 1.0% |
| 433 | Lake Forest | 1.0% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 567 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 564 | Roswell | 7.1% |
| 565 | Victorville | 7.0% |
| 566 | Cambridge | 7.0% |
| 567 | San Luis Obispo | 7.0% |
| 568 | Lawrence | 7.0% |
| 569 | Parker | 7.0% |
| 570 | Castle Rock | 7.0% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 185 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 182 | Fayetteville | 26.1% |
| 183 | Albany | 26.1% |
| 184 | Macon-Bibb County | 26.1% |
| 185 | San Luis Obispo | 26.1% |
| 186 | Mission | 26.1% |
| 187 | Brentwood | 26.1% |
| 188 | La Mesa | 26.1% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 177 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 174 | Oakland | $1,979 |
| 175 | Hillsboro | $1,978 |
| 176 | Apopka | $1,969 |
| 177 | San Luis Obispo | $1,965 |
| 178 | Lehi | $1,964 |
| 179 | Buckeye | $1,963 |
| 180 | Delray Beach | $1,961 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 57 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Orange | $945,800 |
| 55 | Seattle | $938,600 |
| 56 | Lake Forest | $937,000 |
| 57 | San Luis Obispo | $935,100 |
| 58 | Oakland | $929,900 |
| 59 | Bothell | $925,100 |
| 60 | Los Angeles | $921,200 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 5 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Santa Barbara | 14.8x |
| 3 | Berkeley | 13.1x |
| 4 | Arcadia | 12.7x |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo | 12.7x |
| 6 | Glendale | 12.5x |
| 7 | Boulder | 11.9x |
| 8 | Redwood City | 11.4x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 766 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 763 | Tallahassee | 40.6% |
| 764 | Reading | 40.6% |
| 765 | New Bedford | 40.3% |
| 766 | San Luis Obispo | 40.3% |
| 767 | El Monte | 40.2% |
| 768 | Santa Barbara | 39.9% |
| 769 | Cincinnati | 39.8% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 402 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 399 | Irving | 92.7% |
| 400 | Lincoln | 92.7% |
| 401 | San Jacinto | 92.7% |
| 402 | San Luis Obispo | 92.7% |
| 403 | Frederick | 92.7% |
| 404 | Pomona | 92.7% |
| 405 | Visalia | 92.6% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 500 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 497 | Davie | 4.1% |
| 498 | Elgin | 4.1% |
| 499 | Mesquite | 4.0% |
| 500 | San Luis Obispo | 4.0% |
| 501 | Novato | 4.0% |
| 502 | Alexandria | 4.0% |
| 503 | Clermont | 4.0% |
More on San Luis Obispo: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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