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Living in
San Pablo.
About
Life in San Pablo
San Pablo is a small, densely packed city that works best if you value proximity to the Bay Area job market and don't mind a car-dependent lifestyle with some commute time. The median rent around $2,018 and home values near $552,000 are reasonable compared to much of the Bay Area, though you're paying for access more than walkability. The community is genuinely multicultural—nearly equal numbers of Spanish and English speakers, with strong Vietnamese, Tagalog, and other Asian language communities—which shapes local business and social life.
San Pablo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
44.2%
Broadband Internet
90.7%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics44.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in San Pablo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Pablo, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (37.9%), and 51.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.4%
of residents
65 and Older
11.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.8%
of households
Married Couples
44.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.18
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 Pablo
In San Pablo, home values are 25% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,461
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $553,824 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in San Pablo
Unemployment in San Pablo is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What San Pablo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.3 min avg
How San Pablo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Pablo, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 24 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M 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 19% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Pablo runs 19% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
391.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,106.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Pablo Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes San Pablo, the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | 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.
251 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
San Pablo is about 3% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes San Pablo, is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
San Pablo is about 3% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate72°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
San Pablo has mild summers (avg high 72°F) and mild winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
72°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
24.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 44°F | 4.83" |
| Feb | 61°F | 46°F | 4.76" |
| Mar | 64°F | 47°F | 3.17" |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 1.57" |
| May | 69°F | 52°F | 0.72" |
| Jun | 72°F | 54°F | 0.27" |
| Jul | 71°F | 55°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 72°F | 56°F | 0.07" |
| Sep | 75°F | 56°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 73°F | 54°F | 1.42" |
| Nov | 65°F | 49°F | 2.67" |
| Dec | 58°F | 44°F | 4.90" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in San Pablo
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside San Pablo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Berkeley
Ucsf Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland
Childrens · ER available · 9.6 mi away · Oakland
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/richmond
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.7 mi away · Oakland
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.
Education23.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in San Pablo
San Pablo's student/teacher ratio is 23.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in San Pablo
Public · 2-year · 5,203 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 22% graduate · median earnings $45,857 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of California-Berkeley
7.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,068 students · in-state tuition $17,198 · 94% graduate · median earnings $100,212 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,842 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 20% graduate · median earnings $42,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,287 students · in-state tuition $62,462 · 75% graduate · median earnings $94,613 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,487 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $47,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,456 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $48,574 (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: Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for San Pablo
San Pablo has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
10 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
13 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
16 mi awayPublic Libraries in San Pablo
San Pablo Library
13751 San Pablo Ave., San Pablo
Cities Near San Pablo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Pablo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Pablo FAQ
Is San Pablo, California affordable?⌄
San Pablo's median rent is $2,018/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $79,478/year. Median home value is $551,700.
Is San Pablo, California safe?⌄
San Pablo's violent crime rate was 391 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2106 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Pablo, California?⌄
San Pablo has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Pablo, California?⌄
The cost of living in San Pablo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,018/month and median household income is $79,478/year. The median home value is $551,700. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Pablo, California?⌄
The average commute in San Pablo is 32 minutes, which is longer 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