Your life in San Luis Obispo County, California

What stands out

Against every county in America, San Luis Obispo County is unusual in three ways: the median home price is among the priciest in America ($910K), the home price against local income is among the most stretched in America (6.4 years of income), and the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 2% of American counties ($1,832 a month). Within California it ranks 10th of 58 counties for the median home price.

Where you are

You live in San Luis Obispo County, California. 281,712 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -568).

California's 13.3% top income-tax rate applies only to income above roughly $1 million, and Proposition 13 caps property-tax growth at 2% a year for as long as you own the home, so long-time owners pay far less than new buyers on identical houses. Wildfire risk now drives insurance availability in much of the state, and several major carriers have stopped writing new homeowner policies.

Money

The typical household here brings in $90,158 a year, higher than 94% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $61,334. Unemployment runs 3.0%, lower than 64% of American counties. 13% of workers work from home.

California takes 5.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,823 a year.

Home

The median home costs $910K, pricier than almost every county in America, about 6.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,832 a month. Property tax is 0.70% of home value, roughly $5,066 a year on that median home, lower than 65% of American counties. 62% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.4 per 1,000 residents, lower than 74% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 21 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 81.2 years, longer than 96% of American counties. There are 864 active physicians in the county, about 30.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.3 of 5 stars. 6.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.98 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 61% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 6 points. 72% of eligible voters turned out. Under California law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 61°F, highs near 75 and lows near 47, warmer than 70% of American counties. About 19 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 93 out of 100, riskier than 93% of American counties; the county has had 28 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 206 Mbps down, faster than 53% of American counties. There are 12 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.2 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 26 breweries, 17 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• California tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.