San Marcos, CA

Census Place

2024 Population

94,882

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

US Senator

Adam Schiff

Democratic Party

2024 Poverty Rate

9.2%

9.58% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$109,377

3.89% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$868,000

9.54% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

46,169

Population & Diversity

San Marcos, CA is home to a population of 94.9k people, from which 90.5% are citizens.

As of 2024, 22.2% of San Marcos, CA residents were born outside of the country (21.1k people).

In 2024, there were 3.09 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (41.6k people) in San Marcos, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 13.5k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 12.5k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

90.5%

2024 Citizenship

90.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 90.5% of San Marcos, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in San Marcos, CA was 90.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in San Marcos, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in San Marcos, CA

White (Non-Hispanic)
41.6k ± 2.37k
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
13.5k ± 1.55k
Other (Hispanic)
12.5k ± 1.46k

36.8%

Hispanic Population

34.9k people

36.8% of the people in San Marcos, CA are hispanic (34.9k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in San Marcos, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,877,888 ± 45,899 people
Philippines
827,719 ± 22,100 people
China
695,724 ± 20,296 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,877,888 California residents, followed by Philippines with 827,719 and China with 695,724.

Foreign-Born Population

22.2%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

21.1k people

22.4%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

21k people

As of 2024, 22.2% of San Marcos, CA residents (21.1k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in San Marcos, CA was 22.4%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in San Marcos, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,352 ± 340
Gulf War (2001-)
1,243 ± 274
Gulf War (1990s)
768 ± 194

San Marcos, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.09 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in San Marcos, CA.

Economy

The economy of San Marcos, CA employs 46.2k people. In 2024, the largest industries in San Marcos, CA were Health Care & Social Assistance (5,835 people), Manufacturing (5,497 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (5,159 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($111,215), Finance & Insurance ($95,543), and Public Administration ($90,341).

Employment

Occupations

46.2k

2024 Value

± 1,840

2.81%

1 Year growth

± 5.52%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in San Marcos, CA grew at a rate of 2.81%, from 44.9k employees to 46.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in San Marcos, CA, are Management Occupations (6,750 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,474 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (4,333 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of San Marcos, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

46.2k

2024 Value

± 1,840

2.81%

1 Year growth

± 5.52%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in San Marcos, CA grew at a rate of 2.81%, from 44.9k employees to 46.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in San Marcos, CA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (5,835 people), Manufacturing (5,497 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (5,159 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of San Marcos, CA, though some of these residents may live in San Marcos, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$66,468

Median earning men ± $5,918

$45,046

Median earning women ± $3,613

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($122,661), Manufacturing ($107,681), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($105,430).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($76,786), Wholesale Trade ($70,893), and Public Administration ($70,000).

Education

The student population of San Marcos, CA in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 18,548 male students and 22,375 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in San Marcos, CA are Hispanic or Latino (4,598 and 42.5%), White (3,774 and 34.9%), Asian (906 and 8.38%), and Two or More Races (564 and 5.21%).

The largest universities in San Marcos, CA by number of degrees awarded are Palomar College (4,595 and 42%), California State University-San Marcos (3,791 and 34.6%), and University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (1,850 and 16.9%).

The most popular majors in San Marcos, CA are General Business Administration & Management (1,337 and 12.2%), Liberal Arts & Sciences (935 and 8.54%), and Physical Therapy (808 and 7.38%).

The median tuition cost for a public four year colleges is $6,084 for in-state students and $18,684 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in San Marcos, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 95.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 14%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 40,923 (45.3% men and 54.7% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 40,923 students enrolled in San Marcos, CA, 45.3% men and 54.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 19,250 records, of which 56.4% were women and 43.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
538 degrees awarded
General Psychology
308 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
294 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in San Marcos, CA was General Business Administration & Management with 538 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in San Marcos, CA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Palomar College
4,595 degrees awarded
California State University-San Marcos
3,791 degrees awarded
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
1,850 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Palomar College with 4,595 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 4,500 men were awarded degrees from institutions in San Marcos, CA, which is 0.698 times less than the 6,448 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 4,598 degrees mean that there were 1.22 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 3,774 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($6,084) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,998) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,018) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in San Marcos, CA was $868,000 in 2024, which is 2.61 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $792,400 to $868,000, a 9.54% increase. The homeownership rate in San Marcos, CA is 63.7%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in San Marcos, CA have an average commute time of 26.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in San Marcos, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$868,000

Median Property Value 2024

±$26,665

$19,976

Median Property Taxes

±$981

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In San Marcos, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in San Marcos, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

63.7%

Homeownership

2024

64.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 63.7% of the housing units in San Marcos, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in San Marcos, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$109,377

Median Household Income

± $5,003

31.4k

Number of Households

± 1,439

In 2024, the median household income of the 31.4k households in San Marcos, CA grew to $109,377 from the previous year's value of $105,286.

The following chart displays the households in San Marcos, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for San Marcos, CA is from California.

0.493

2024 Wage GINI in California

0.495

2023 Wage GINI in California

In 2024, the income inequality in California was 0.493 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.424% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (67.7%)
Worked At Home (20.5%)
Carpooled (8.02%)

In 2024, 67.7% of workers in San Marcos, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (20.5%) and those who carpooled to work (8.02%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

26.5 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in San Marcos, CA have a longer commute time (26.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.43% of the workforce in San Marcos, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in San Marcos, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in San Marcos, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in San Marcos, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

9.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in San Marcos, CA (8.57k out of 93.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Females 75+.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in San Marcos, CA is Hispanic, followed by White and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

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