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Population Review

San Diego, California Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates

The population of San Diego, California is 1,385,061 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 8th-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in California. The median household income is $104,321, the median home value is $848,500, and the median age is 36.0.

The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (1,305,906 → 1,404,452).

1,385,061

Population

4247

People / sq mi

$104,321

Median Income

$848,500

Median Home Value

San Diego covers 326.1 sq mi of land at 4247 people per square mile.

About San Diego, CA

San Diego is a city in California with a population of 1,385,061. It ranks #2 among cities in California by population. The median age is 36.0, younger than the national median. The population is 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

The median household income in San Diego is $104,321, above the US median of $74,580. 6.9% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $848,500, with monthly rent averaging $2,223. The homeownership rate of 47.6% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in San Diego reflects 49.9% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 19.2% of workers primarily work from home, noticeably above the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 23.9 minutes each way.

San Diego city Population History (2010-2024)

The city of San Diego city had a population of 1,305,906 in 2010 and 1,404,452 in 2024, a 7.5% growth over 14 years. The peak was 1,423,851 in 2019. Average annual growth rate: 0.53%.

2019 · 1.4M20102024

1,404,452

Population (2024)

1,305,906

Population (2010)

1,423,851

Peak (2019)

0.53%

Avg Annual Growth

YearPopulation
20101,305,906
20111,319,592
20121,336,776
20131,355,320
20141,375,831
20151,387,323
20161,402,089
20171,412,621
20181,421,917
20191,423,851
20201,384,824
20211,374,972
20221,388,730
20231,394,555
20241,404,452

Race & Ethnicity

White50.4%
Black or African American5.7%
Asian0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2.1%
Two or More Races0.1%

Economy & Income

$104,321

Median Household Income

$54,678

Per Capita Income

6.9%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

Housing

$848,500

Median Home Value

$2,223

Median Rent

47.6%

Owner-Occupied

Education

90.2%

High School+

49.9%

Bachelor's+

Commute

3.0%

Drive Alone

64.2%

Public Transit

19.2%

Work From Home

23.9 min

Avg Commute

Community Profile

26.2%

Foreign Born

61.5%

Non-English at Home

6.7%

Veterans

10.0%

With Disability

93.7%

Health Insurance

97.4%

Internet Access

Employment by Industry

Professional, Scientific & Management23.0%
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate19.1%
Education, Health Care & Social Services10.4%
Manufacturing10.2%
Information6.4%
Public Administration4.7%
Arts, Entertainment & Food Services4.5%
Construction4.4%
Retail Trade4.0%
Transportation & Warehousing2.2%
Agriculture & Mining0.3%

Largest cities in California

Largest counties in California

Part of California

Metro areas in California

City rankings

Common questions about San Diego, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

San Diego, California has a population of 1,385,061 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 8th-largest city in the United States and the 2nd-largest in California.

The median household income in San Diego, California is $104,321, with 6.9% of residents living below the federal poverty level.

The median home value in San Diego, California is $848,500, with median monthly rent at $2,223 and a homeownership rate of 47.6%.

The median age in San Diego, California is 36.0 years. The population is 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

The population has grown 7.5% since 2010 (1,305,906 → 1,404,452).

Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.