HomeCaliforniaSan Benito County
San Benito County, California: commercial real estate data.
San Benito County, California had an estimated 69,159 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,209, across 1,389 square miles. County output reached $3.28 bn in 2024, 1,168 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 47 7(a) approvals worth $29.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
San Benito County
How many people live in San Benito County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202467,290
- Households20,561
- Average household size3.27
- Median household income$114,394
- Median age36.1
- Median gross rent$1,992 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$793,400
- Home value to household income6.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over44,349
- Population under 1817,016
- Share under 1825.3 percent
- Population 65 and over9,234
- Share 65 and over13.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6441,040
- Civilian labor force35,029
- Unemployment rate5.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.7 percent
- Rank by population among California counties41st of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included815th of 3,222
San Benito County is the 41st largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 6.9 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.3 percent against 13.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
San Benito County
Is San Benito County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202469,159
- Census 2020 base population64,209
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.71 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024818
- Births, 2024818
- Deaths, 2024473
- Natural change, 2024345
- Net domestic migration, 2024289
- Net international migration, 2024185
- Total net migration, 2024474
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,892
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents263rd of 3,144
The county has grown 7.71 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
San Benito County
Where are people moving to San Benito County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,011
- People arriving, from those returns3,810
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,811
- Net household movement200
- Adjusted gross income arriving$195.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$61.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$97,031
- Average income of a leaving household$73,592
- Largest single originSanta Clara County (1,053 households)
- Largest single destinationSanta Clara County (517 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County | 1,053 | 2,120 | $116.3 m |
| Monterey County | 217 | 391 | $21.8 m |
| Santa Cruz County | 164 | 313 | $12.3 m |
| Alameda County | 60 | 112 | $9.0 m |
| Merced County | 53 | 105 | $2.5 m |
| San Mateo County | 29 | 50 | $4.0 m |
| Fresno County | 23 | 32 | $1.1 m |
| San Joaquin County | 21 | 27 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $23,439 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Santa Clara County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
San Benito County
What is the San Benito County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.28 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.99 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20249.9 percent
- GDP change over five years38.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the California areas BEA publishes41st of 58
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes921st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$48,814
Output grew 9.9 percent in the latest year and 38.3 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
San Benito County
Employment by industry in San Benito County
- Covered employment, annual average18,032
- Establishments reporting1,930
- Average annual pay$60,013
- Average weekly wage$1,154
- Manufacturing, employment2,967
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$71,809
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment1,817
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$54,776
- Construction, employment1,615
- Construction, average annual pay$75,487
- Retail trade, employment1,538
- Retail trade, average annual pay$42,446
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,536
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,471
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,967 | 68 | $71,809 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 1,817 | 98 | $54,776 |
| Construction | 1,615 | 230 | $75,487 |
| Retail trade | 1,538 | 101 | $42,446 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,536 | 116 | $29,361 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,471 | 745 | $43,712 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 946 | 70 | $45,090 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 510 | 47 | $53,047 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,967 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
San Benito County
How many businesses are in San Benito County?
- Establishments, all industries1,168
- Employment at those establishments14,222
- Annual payroll$798.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
San Benito County
Building permits in San Benito County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024281
- Declared construction value permitted$101.5 m
- Single family units authorized281
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$361,284
- Units authorized per 1,000 households13.7
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
San Benito County
SBA loans in San Benito County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded47
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$29.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$631,019
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- 10th percentile approval$29,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,643,200
- Largest single approval$4,079,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)411
- Jobs per approval8.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals32
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter35
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals14.9 percent
- 504 approvals recorded19
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.9 m
- Average 504 approval$887,158
- Median 504 approval$634,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval6.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.5
- Most active CDCMortgage Capital Development Corporation (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$46.5 m
The average approval of $631,019 sits well above the median of $300,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
San Benito County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in San Benito County
Do SBA loans in San Benito County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure28
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
San Benito County
SBA lending by place in San Benito County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Hollister, approvals43
- Watsonville, approvals1
- Tres Pinos, approvals1
- Aromas, approvals1
- San Juan Bautista, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hollister | 43 | $28,940,900 |
| Watsonville | 1 | $637,000 |
| Tres Pinos | 1 | $50,000 |
| Aromas | 1 | $15,000 |
| San Juan Bautista | 1 | $15,000 |
Hollister accounts for 43 approvals against 1 in Watsonville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
San Benito County
How large is San Benito County?
- Land area1,389 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties34th of 58
- Width, east to west58.2 mi
- Height, north to south53.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land48
- Establishments per square mile0.84
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
San Benito County
Flood risk in San Benito County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community San Benito County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 060267
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in San Benito County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated San Benito County (community 060267), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places San Benito County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a San Benito County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a San Benito County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202467,290
- Households20,561
- Average household size3.27
- Median household income$114,394
- Median age36.1
Common questions
San Benito County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in San Benito County, California?
The Census Bureau estimates 69,159 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 67,290, in 20,561 households, ranking 41st of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is San Benito County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.71 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,209, to 69,159 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 818 births against 473 deaths, with net migration of 474. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in San Benito County?
$114,394. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $793,400, which is 6.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,992 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in San Benito County?
1,168 establishments, employing 14,222 people with an annual payroll of $798.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in San Benito County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,967 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 18,032 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,013, or $1,154 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in San Benito County?
47 7(a) approvals totaling $29.7 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 19 504 approvals worth $16.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in San Benito County?
281 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $101.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for San Benito County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to San Benito County come from?
The largest single origin is Santa Clara County, with 1,053 households. Arriving households report an average income of $97,031 against $73,592 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for San Benito County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for San Benito County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
San Benito County
Cities and places in San Benito.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in San Benito County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister | city | 43,811 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| Ridgemark | CDP | 3,403 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Aromas | CDP | 3,245 | 1 | 56.2 percent here, 43.8 percent Monterey County |
| San Juan Bautista | city | 2,033 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Tres Pinos | CDP | 901 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 47 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in San Benito County, the largest being Watsonville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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