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Living in
Solana Beach.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Solana Beach
Solana Beach is a community of 12,841 people in California. The median household income is $150,820, median rent runs about $3,212 per month, and median home values are around $2,000,001. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.
Solana Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
50.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Foreign-Born
10.5%
Broadband Internet
96.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Solana Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Solana Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (23.3%), and 11.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.3%
of residents
65 and Older
26.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.0%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
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 58% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Solana Beach
In Solana Beach, rent runs 58% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
67.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $2,209,319 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Solana Beach and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Diego County, which includes Solana Beach, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Solana Beach: San Diego County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Diego County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Solana Beach is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Solana Beach Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
Commute21 min avg
How Solana Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Solana Beach, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
Regional airport · few flights68k passengers boarded in 2025
- 18 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Solana Beach runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
111.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
1,183.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Solana Beach Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Diego County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Diego County, which includes Solana Beach, the most common type is high wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Heavy Rain | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 56 | High Wind | $30.9M |
| 2023 | 67 | High Wind | $13,000 |
| 2022 | 92 | High Wind | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 93 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 56 | High Wind | $4.5M |
| 2019 | 69 | High Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 42 | High Wind | $680,100 |
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.
206 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Solana Beach is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Diego County, which includes Solana Beach, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
67
Good Days
64
per year
Moderate Days
268
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
San Diego County, county-wide
Solana Beach is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate73°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Solana Beach has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
28
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 48°F | 2.49" |
| Feb | 64°F | 49°F | 2.64" |
| Mar | 65°F | 51°F | 1.61" |
| Apr | 66°F | 53°F | 0.88" |
| May | 68°F | 57°F | 0.28" |
| Jun | 70°F | 60°F | 0.06" |
| Jul | 74°F | 64°F | 0.08" |
| Aug | 76°F | 65°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 76°F | 64°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 73°F | 59°F | 0.50" |
| Nov | 70°F | 52°F | 0.99" |
| Dec | 65°F | 47°F | 1.72" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Solana Beach
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Solana Beach's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Encinitas
Scripps Green Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.7 mi away · La Jolla
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · La Jolla
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.
Education23.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Solana Beach
Solana Beach's student/teacher ratio is 23.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 72.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
72.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Solana Beach (within 15 miles)
University of California-San Diego
8.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 34,948 students · in-state tuition $17,337 · 89% graduate · median earnings $96,197 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,098 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 23% graduate · median earnings $50,947 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-San Marcos
11 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 14,877 students · in-state tuition $8,454 · 68% graduate · median earnings $67,217 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 11,271 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 22% graduate · median earnings $53,737 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,794 students · in-state tuition $13,284 · 46% graduate · median earnings $73,988 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,278 students · in-state tuition $1,158 · 29% graduate · median earnings $49,887 (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: Cabrillo National Monument, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Solana Beach
Solana Beach has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
22 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
61 mi awayPublic Libraries in Solana Beach
Solana Beach Library
157 Stevens Avenue, Solana Beach
Cities Near Solana Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Solana Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Solana Beach FAQ
Is Solana Beach, California affordable?⌄
Solana Beach's median rent is $3,212/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $152,167/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Solana Beach, California safe?⌄
Solana Beach's violent crime rate was 111 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1183 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Solana Beach, California?⌄
San Diego County, which includes Solana Beach, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Solana Beach, California?⌄
The cost of living in Solana Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,212/month and median household income is $152,167/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Solana Beach, California?⌄
The average commute in Solana Beach is 21 minutes, which is about 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