Carlsbad, California Population 2026
Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
The population of Carlsbad, California is 114,500 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 57th-largest city in California. The median household income is $139,326, the median home value is $1,156,900, and the median age is 42.8.
The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (105,674 → 113,575).
114,500
Population
3028
People / sq mi
$139,326
Median Income
$1,156,900
Median Home Value
Carlsbad covers 37.8 sq mi of land at 3028 people per square mile.
About Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad is a city in California with a population of 114,500. It ranks #57 among cities in California by population. The median age is 42.8, older than the national median. The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
The median household income in Carlsbad is $139,326, above the US median of $74,580. 4.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $1,156,900, with monthly rent averaging $2,678. The homeownership rate of 63.3% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.
Educational attainment in Carlsbad reflects 61.4% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 29.0% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 28.0 minutes each way.
Carlsbad city Population History (2010-2024)
The city of Carlsbad city had a population of 105,674 in 2010 and 113,575 in 2024, a 7.5% growth over 14 years. The peak was 115,518 in 2018. Average annual growth rate: 0.52%.
113,575
Population (2024)
105,674
Population (2010)
115,518
Peak (2018)
0.52%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 105,674 |
| 2011 | 107,460 |
| 2012 | 108,948 |
| 2013 | 110,665 |
| 2014 | 111,609 |
| 2015 | 112,662 |
| 2016 | 113,265 |
| 2017 | 114,477 |
| 2018 | 115,518 |
| 2019 | 115,382 |
| 2020 | 114,930 |
| 2021 | 114,968 |
| 2022 | 114,586 |
| 2023 | 113,920 |
| 2024 | 113,575 |
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 71.0% |
| Black or African American | 1.0% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
Economy & Income
$139,326
Median Household Income
$70,896
Per Capita Income
4.8%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
Housing
$1,156,900
Median Home Value
$2,678
Median Rent
63.3%
Owner-Occupied
Education
96.1%
High School+
61.4%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.8%
Drive Alone
62.3%
Public Transit
29.0%
Work From Home
28.0 min
Avg Commute
Community Profile
31.9%
Foreign Born
82.7%
Non-English at Home
6.6%
Veterans
8.7%
With Disability
95.9%
Health Insurance
98.0%
Internet Access
Employment by Industry
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 21.4% |
| Professional, Scientific & Management | 17.7% |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% |
| Education, Health Care & Social Services | 10.0% |
| Information | 9.9% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Food Services | 4.2% |
| Construction | 3.8% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 3.0% |
| Public Administration | 3.0% |
| Retail Trade | 2.5% |
| Agriculture & Mining | 0.4% |
Largest cities in California
Largest counties in California
Part of California
Metro areas in California
City rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad, California has a population of 114,500 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 57th-largest city in California.
The median household income in Carlsbad, California is $139,326, with 4.8% of residents living below the federal poverty level.
The median home value in Carlsbad, California is $1,156,900, with median monthly rent at $2,678 and a homeownership rate of 63.3%.
The median age in Carlsbad, California is 42.8 years. The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (105,674 → 113,575).
More from California
Population 3,857,897
Population 1,385,061
Population 990,054
Population 836,321
Population 543,615
Full rankings of California cities by population
Statewide data for California
Population, race, income, age, and trends across California
Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.