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Living in
San Luis Obispo.
About
Life in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo draws people for its wine country proximity, hiking, and laid-back Central Coast vibe, but living here is really about navigating a college town that's transformed into a genuinely expensive rental and ownership market. With a median home price around $935,100 and median rent at $1,965 monthly, housing costs are substantial for a city this size—though less punishing than the Bay Area. The job market is stable with Cal Poly and Pacific Gas and Electric as anchors, plus a growing tech sector, but many workers commute in from surrounding areas because housing hasn't kept pace with job growth.
San Luis Obispo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.4%
Foreign-Born
8.2%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
+7.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in San Luis Obispo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Luis Obispo, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.5%), and 10.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
10.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
13.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.7%
of households
Married Couples
31.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.31
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in San Luis Obispo
In San Luis Obispo, home values are 27% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
64.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
43.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,847
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,081,221 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.8 pts below CA average
Unemployment in San Luis Obispo
Unemployment in San Luis Obispo is 1.8 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What San Luis Obispo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.1 min avg
How San Luis Obispo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Luis Obispo, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP)
Regional airport · few flights399k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 5% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Luis Obispo runs 5% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
347.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,054.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Luis Obispo Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Luis Obispo County, which includes San Luis Obispo, the most common type is high wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Wildfire | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 2 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 1 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
94 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Luis Obispo County, which includes San Luis Obispo, is typically good — 191 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
191
per year
Moderate Days
167
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
San Luis Obispo has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
8
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
56
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 41°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 65°F | 42°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 67°F | 45°F | 3.17" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 1.05" |
| May | 72°F | 48°F | 0.47" |
| Jun | 75°F | 51°F | 0.10" |
| Jul | 78°F | 54°F | 0.08" |
| Aug | 79°F | 55°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 80°F | 53°F | 0.04" |
| Oct | 77°F | 50°F | 0.92" |
| Nov | 71°F | 45°F | 1.43" |
| Dec | 65°F | 40°F | 3.27" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
French Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education21.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo's student/teacher ratio is 21.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 54.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in San Luis Obispo
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,116 students · 39% graduate · median earnings $40,324 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
89 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo City-County Library
995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County Law Library
1050 Monterey St., Rm 125, San Luis Obispo
Cities Near San Luis Obispo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Luis Obispo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Luis Obispo FAQ
Is San Luis Obispo, California affordable?⌄
San Luis Obispo's median rent is $1,965/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $73,685/year. Median home value is $935,100.
Is San Luis Obispo, California safe?⌄
San Luis Obispo's violent crime rate was 347 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2054 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Luis Obispo, California?⌄
San Luis Obispo has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Luis Obispo, California?⌄
The cost of living in San Luis Obispo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,965/month and median household income is $73,685/year. The median home value is $935,100. About 65% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Luis Obispo, California?⌄
The average commute in San Luis Obispo is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from