Poverty and living standards in San Luis Obispo, California: official figures
30.4% of residents of San Luis Obispo (14,465 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 9th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; California: 12.0%).
How many children live in poverty in San Luis Obispo?
9.9% of children under 18 in San Luis Obispo lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (489 children), 232nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; California: 15.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in San Luis Obispo?
By age, the poverty rate in San Luis Obispo was 7.4% for children under 6 and 9.8% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in San Luis Obispo live in deep poverty?
9,602 people in San Luis Obispo, 20.2% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, the highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in San Luis Obispo are cost-burdened?
67.0% of renting households in San Luis Obispo spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (7,918 households), 19th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; California: 55.3%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in San Luis Obispo spend half their income on rent?
45.4% of renting households in San Luis Obispo spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 2nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in San Luis Obispo are food insecure?
An estimated 16.2% of adults in San Luis Obispo experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 256th lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 13.2% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow San Luis Obispo compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 9 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Gainesville | 30.8% |
| 7 | Cleveland | 30.6% |
| 8 | Harrisburg | 30.5% |
| 9 | San Luis Obispo | 30.4% |
| 10 | Camden | 30.2% |
| 11 | Bloomington | 29.8% |
| 12 | College Station | 29.2% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 592 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 589 | Daly City | 10.0% |
| 590 | Chandler | 10.0% |
| 591 | Blaine | 9.9% |
| 592 | San Luis Obispo | 9.9% |
| 593 | Buena Park | 9.9% |
| 594 | St. Louis Park | 9.9% |
| 595 | Hoffman Estates | 9.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 1 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Luis Obispo | 20.2% |
| 2 | Bloomington | 19.4% |
| 3 | Davis | 19.3% |
| 4 | College Station | 19.3% |
| 5 | Gary | 19.2% |
| 6 | Harrisburg | 19.1% |
| 7 | Gainesville | 18.5% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
San Luis Obispo ranks 19 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Miami Gardens | 68.0% |
| 17 | Hollywood | 67.7% |
| 18 | Highland | 67.4% |
| 19 | San Luis Obispo | 67.0% |
| 20 | Sunrise | 66.8% |
| 21 | San Marcos | 66.5% |
| 22 | Bradenton | 66.4% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
San Luis Obispo ranks 337 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 334 | Rancho Cordova | 16.2% |
| 335 | New Rochelle | 16.2% |
| 336 | Goose Creek | 16.2% |
| 337 | San Luis Obispo | 16.2% |
| 338 | Provo | 16.1% |
| 339 | Fayetteville | 16.1% |
| 340 | San Marcos | 16.1% |
More on San Luis Obispo: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.