Census ACS · #177 MSA
San Luis Obispo Metro Area
The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has 281,486 residents. The median household income is $93,398 and the median home value is $777,200.
281,486
Population
85
People / sq mi
$93,398
Median Income
$777,200
Median Home Value
The San Luis Obispo CBSA covers 3,301 sq mi of land at 85.3 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 72.4% |
| Black or African American | 1.1% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6% |
Economy & Income
$93,398
Median Household Income
$49,581
Per Capita Income
6.3%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The San Luis Obispo metro's price level is 108.6 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 8.6% higher the US average. The local median income of $93,398 has the buying power of $86,005 in average-priced US metros.
108.6
Price Level (US = 100)
$86,005
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$93,398
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$777,200
Median Home Value
$1,899
Median Rent
61.9%
Homeownership
Education
91.8%
High School+
39.2%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.8%
Drive Alone
14.0%
Work From Home
21.4 min
Avg Commute
20.2%
Foreign Born
San Luis Obispo spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in California
Largest counties in California
Part of California
Other metros
Metro areas in California
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 281,486 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #177 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the San Luis Obispo metro area is $93,398, with a per capita income of $49,581.
The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Ca CBSA spans the state of California.
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More from California
Data for the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Ca CBSA (42020) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
In San Luis Obispo, home values do the distinguishing — a median of $777,200. San Luis Obispo is a metro area in CA with a population of 281,486.
Households here are among the highest-earning of all US metro areas: median income is $93,398, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 6.3%, below the national 12.4%. Home prices are steep, with the typical property valued at $777,200, with typical rent around $1,899.
College attainment is above the local norm at 39.2%, above the national 35.0%.
High housing values reframe the income picture in San Luis Obispo — even solid earnings stretch less against home prices and rents at this level.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.