San Diego, CA
Demographics And Statistics

We take you around San Diego to find out what it's like to call it home.

Living in San Diego, California

Life in San Diego research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in San Diego over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Here's a snapshot of San Diego based on the most recently available data.

1,389,526 Population
$1,001,264 Median home value
$108,077 Median income
175 Cost of living +75% vs US
$2,313 Median rent
6.0% Unemployment
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San Diego SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8/10
Housing 9.5/10
Affordability 3/10
Diversity 10/10
Safety 6/10
Amenities 9.5/10
Education 8/10
Commute 8/10

Crime in San Diego summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in San Diego. Key points include:

  • There were 28,923 total crimes in San Diego in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in San Diego is 2,082.3 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in San Diego is 412.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in San Diego is 1,670.0 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in San Diego is -1.74% below the national average.

28,923
Total Crimes
-1.74%
Below National Average
San Diego
US

Crime In San Diego Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
San Diego
/ 100k People
California
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 28,923 2,082.3 2,564.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 5,726 412.2 486.0 359.0
Murder 35 2.5 4.5 5.0
Robbery 1,075 77.4 119.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 4,319 310.9 325.8 256.0
Property Crime 23,197 1,670.0 2,078.4 1,760.0
Burglary 2,603 187.4 305.8 229.0
Larceny 15,100 1,087.1 1,345.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 5,494 395.5 427.5 259.0
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Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024)

Cost of living in San Diego summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in San Diego. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around California. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in San Diego is 175 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in San Diego is 1.8x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in San Diego is $1,001,264.

  • The median income in San Diego is $108,077.

175
San Diego's Overall Cost Of Living
1.8x
Higher Than The National Average
San Diego
US

Cost Of Living In San Diego Comparison Table

Living Expense San Diego California National Average
Overall 175 142 100
Services 121 110 100
Groceries 121 118 100
Health 296 197 100
Housing 127 120 100
Transportation 131 121 100
Utilities 135 121 100
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Source: Cost of living index, normalized to US average = 100

San Diego, CA Weather

  • The average high in San Diego is 73.0° and the average low is 51.8°.

  • There are 24.3 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 13.2 inches of precipitation each year with 1.2 inches of snow.

StatSan Diego
Average Annual High73.0
Average Annual Low51.8
Annual Precipitation Days24.3
Average Annual Precipitation13.2
Average Annual Snowfall1.2
73.0°
Average High
24.3
Days of Rain

Source: NOAA climate normals (30-year)

San Diego, CA Photos

Sd Montage
Source: Wikipedia User Tomcio77, User:Nehrams202 | CC BY-SA 3.0
San Diego Tijuana Jpllandsat
Source: Public Domain
San Diego Skyline Day Jd
Source: Wikipedia User JDrewes see www.jandrewes | GFDL
San Diego Skyline Night Jd
Source: Wikipedia User User:JDrewes see www.jand | CC BY-SA 3.0
Pacificbeach
Source: Wikipedia User Tim Shell | GFDL
Torrey Pines State Park Valley
Source: Wikipedia User User:Nauticashades. | CC BY-SA 2.5
San Diego Skyline Against Smoke From Wildfires Oct
Source: Wikipedia User Kat Miner from San Diego, | CC BY 2.0
Us Navy N H Vice Adm
Source: Public Domain
Fachornetoversandiegonov
Source: Public Domain

8 Reviews & Comments About San Diego

HomeSnacks User · 2018-07-13 17:44:23.429055
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San Diego is beautfiul!!!! Beaches are a real treat and the carne asada is to die for!

I don't like how packed the beaches get and parking is a joke! You have to arrive very early to find parking at Mission Beach.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-07-14 23:52:48.687617
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San Diego has the best weather in all of the USA. The oceans are a thing of beauty and the outdoor activities are perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. There is always a place to go and always something to do. There are a vast amount of choices for food and beverages in all the different neighborhoods and the ambiance is only enhanced with the ocean views. Most of San Diego is very secure with minimal crime, but there are areas to stay away from especially late at night with the amount of homeless.

Go for a hike one day the beach the next then hang out in downtown, three completely different experiences all within half hour drive. The housing market is difficult, you absolutely pay for the weather as it is very expensive to live in a descent neighborhood.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-07-15 14:29:10.266707
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The weather here is beautiful, the downtown area is very cool. There are lots of bars, clubs and high end restuaurants. With the Chargers having moved in recent years, there is a lack of professional sports but there are beaches, the zoo and many other attractions.

Balboa Park and the Zoo are a couple of my favorite places. Balboa Park features many different exhibits which sometimes seasonally change and is a very scenic area of downtown. The Zoo is historic, the best that I have been to and is easily an all day venture, which even then you probably won't get to see all the features.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-07-15 16:57:24.580696
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"Rich in History and Rich for Future Growth"

LIttle Italy is by far my favorite Downtown Neighborhood and yes I am biased because I do live here. I have lived here for 6+ years and I love it more each day. I don't know of any other community in San Diego that has its own association. The Little Italy Association has taken charge of this historic neighborhood and is constantly involved in maintaining its roots and heritage while at the same time improving the neighborhood. I love that I can call the association and let them know if there is an issue that has to be addressed such as an outage with a street light or graffiti, they take care of it ASAP. Little Italy is Preserve America Community.

Everyone knows there are no shortage of Italian Restaurants in Little Italy, but we also have some of the best burgers in San Diego as well. You can find those at the Waterfront Bar or at Burger Lounge. There have been a few newer restaurants that do not serve Italian Food and they have been very successful with the locals, because Little Italians need something different once in awhile. Craft and Commerce, Underbelly and El Camino have been welcome additions to the non-italian menus around town.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-08-03 01:52:06.977043
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THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO. YOU CAN LITERALLY GO TO THE MOUNTAINS, DESERT AND BEACH ALL ON THE SAME DAY. THE SCHOOLS ARE EXCELLENT, THE WEATHER IS GREAT AND THE PEOPLE ARE GOOD

THE BEACH, THE MOUNTAINS, THE WEATHER AND THE PEOPLE IS WHAT STOOD OUT THE MOST ABOUT SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA. IT IS WORTH THE EXTRA COST OF LIVING TO LIVE THERE BECAUSE IT IS AMERICA'S FINEST CITY INDEED.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-08-05 05:31:28.715340
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I'm not sure the hype about San Diego. Sure the weather is nice and not too harsh. Lets me honest there is way too much traffic. The scenery is just OK. Everything is overpriced. There are way better places to visit in the US.

Lots of great taco shops which is a bonus.

HomeSnacks User · 2018-09-10 15:24:18.602779
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Overall San Diego is a great place to life with fun activities, great food and weather. Unfortunately, the cost of living is skyrocketing which is making it cost prohibitive. The homeless population and general population growth is a huge negative and traffic is resembling LA.

The San Diego Zoo, beaches, and dining experiences are amazing. Traffic, crime, and homeless population is growing which are the biggest negatives.

HomeSnacks User · 2019-01-08 16:37:13.173331
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San Diego is one of my favorite places on earth. It has an incredible tourist life, is fun, entertaining, and relaxing all in the same thing.

The thing that stood out the most was the food. We stayed on Mission Bay and the streets were lined with all different types of food with an incredible view.

Rankings & Articles For San Diego

Locations Around San Diego

Map Of San Diego, CA

Best Places Around San Diego

1

Bonita, CA
Population 12,652

$1,131,356+13% vs San Diego
2

Santee, CA
Population 59,332

$803,481-20% vs San Diego
3

Poway, CA
Population 48,713

$1,230,063+23% vs San Diego
4

Rancho San Diego, CA
Population 21,272

$954,442-5% vs San Diego
5

Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA
Population 19,765

$1,004,099
6

La Presa, CA
Population 34,962

$663,882-34% vs San Diego
7

Encinitas, CA
Population 61,480

$1,889,066+89% vs San Diego
8

Jamul, CA
Population 6,574

$1,027,046+3% vs San Diego
9

Lemon Grove, CA
Population 27,686

$762,357-24% vs San Diego
10

Winter Gardens, CA
Population 22,131

$641,636-36% vs San Diego

San Diego Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in San Diego

The current population in San Diego is 1,389,526. The population has increased 8.3% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2024 1,389,526 0.3%
2023 1,385,061 0.1%
2022 1,383,987 -0.1%
2021 1,385,398 -2.1%
2020 1,414,545 0.4%
2019 1,409,573 0.5%
2018 1,401,932 0.8%
2017 1,390,966 1.2%
2016 1,374,812 1.1%
2015 1,359,791 1.4%
2014 1,341,510 1.4%
2013 1,322,838 1.1%
2012 1,308,619 0.9%
2011 1,296,437 1.1%
2010 1,282,800 -

Race / Ethnicity in San Diego

White 40.9% (568,126)
African American 5.3% (73,967)
American Indian 0.2% (2,105)
Asian 17.3% (240,003)
Hawaiian 0.4% (5,306)
Other 0.7% (9,060)
Two Or More 5.5% (76,919)
Hispanic 29.8% (414,040)
See the full breakdown

San Diego is:

  • 40.9% White with 568,126 White residents.

  • 5.3% African American with 73,967 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 2,105 American Indian residents.

  • 17.3% Asian with 240,003 Asian residents.

  • 0.4% Hawaiian with 5,306 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.7% Other with 9,060 Other residents.

  • 5.5% Two Or More with 76,919 Two Or More residents.

  • 29.8% Hispanic with 414,040 Hispanic residents.

Race San Diego CA USA
White 40.9% 33.8% 57.4%
African American 5.3% 5.2% 11.9%
American Indian 0.2% 0.3% 0.5%
Asian 17.3% 15.3% 5.9%
Hawaiian 0.4% 0.3% 0.2%
Other 0.7% 0.6% 0.6%
Two Or More 5.5% 4.4% 4.3%
Hispanic 29.8% 40.2% 19.3%

Gender in San Diego

Female 49.3% (685,316)
Male 50.7% (704,209)
See the full breakdown
  • San Diego is 49.3% female with 685,316 female residents.

  • San Diego is 50.7% male with 704,209 male residents.

Gender San Diego CA USA
Female 49.3% 50.1% 50.5%
Male 50.7% 49.9% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in San Diego for adults over 25

< 9th Grade 5.0% (69,476)
9-12th Grade 5.0% (69,476)
High School / GED 15.0% (208,428)
Some College 17.0% (236,219)
Associate's Degree 7.0% (97,266)
Bachelor's Degree 29.0% (402,962)
Master's Degree 14.0% (194,533)
Professional Degree 4.0% (55,581)
Doctorate Degree 4.0% (55,581)
See the full breakdown
  • 5.0% of adults in San Diego completed < 9th grade.

  • 5.0% of adults in San Diego completed 9-12th grade.

  • 15.0% of adults in San Diego completed high school / ged.

  • 17.0% of adults in San Diego completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in San Diego completed associate's degree.

  • 29.0% of adults in San Diego completed bachelor's degree.

  • 14.0% of adults in San Diego completed master's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in San Diego completed professional degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in San Diego completed doctorate degree.

Education San Diego CA USA
< 9th Grade 5.0% 8.0% 4.0%
9-12th Grade 5.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 15.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 17.0% 19.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 29.0% 23.0% 22.0%
Master's Degree 14.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 4.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 4.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For San Diego, California

Less than $10,000 4.3% (5,957,746)
$10,000 to $14,999 2.3% (3,210,717)
$15,000 to $24,999 4.2% (5,839,859)
$25,000 to $34,999 4.7% (6,509,981)
$35,000 to $49,999 7.1% (9,932,895)
$50,000 to $74,999 11.8% (16,427,419)
$75,000 to $99,999 12.1% (16,774,531)
$100,000 to $149,999 18.7% (25,990,411)
$150,000 to $199,999 12.6% (17,566,994)
$200,000 or more 22.1% (30,742,043)
See the full breakdown
  • 4.3% of households in San Diego earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.3% of households in San Diego earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 4.2% of households in San Diego earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 4.7% of households in San Diego earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 7.1% of households in San Diego earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 11.8% of households in San Diego earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.1% of households in San Diego earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 18.7% of households in San Diego earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 12.6% of households in San Diego earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 22.1% of households in San Diego earn $200,000 or more.

Income San Diego CA USA
Less than $10,000 4.3% 4.5% 5.0%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.3% 2.9% 3.4%
$15,000 to $24,999 4.2% 5.0% 6.3%
$25,000 to $34,999 4.7% 5.3% 6.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 7.1% 8.1% 10.1%
$50,000 to $74,999 11.8% 13.0% 15.5%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.1% 11.6% 12.6%
$100,000 to $149,999 18.7% 17.8% 17.5%
$150,000 to $199,999 12.6% 11.3% 9.6%
$200,000 or more 22.1% 20.5% 13.4%

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (2024)