HomeCaliforniaSan Diego County
San Diego County, California: commercial real estate data.
San Diego County, California had an estimated 3,298,799 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 3,298,647, across 4,207 square miles. County output reached $331.87 bn in 2024, 93,407 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 4,475 7(a) approvals worth $2.44 bn since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
San Diego County
How many people live in San Diego County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20243,288,774
- Households1,171,278
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$106,268
- Median age37.3
- Median gross rent$2,246 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$854,700
- Home value to household income8.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income25.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher43.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree17.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over2,281,385
- Population under 18687,317
- Share under 1820.9 percent
- Population 65 and over507,734
- Share 65 and over15.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 642,093,723
- Civilian labor force1,689,384
- Unemployment rate6.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.9 percent
- Rank by population among California counties2nd of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included5th of 3,222
San Diego County is the 2nd largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 8.0 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 20.9 percent against 15.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
San Diego County
Is San Diego County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20243,298,799
- Census 2020 base population3,298,647
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.00 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202412,909
- Births, 202435,738
- Deaths, 202423,071
- Natural change, 202412,667
- Net domestic migration, 2024-23,934
- Net international migration, 202424,226
- Total net migration, 2024292
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-110,045
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1818th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.00 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 Diego County
Where are people moving to San Diego County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving70,260
- People arriving, from those returns112,882
- Tax returns filed by households leaving79,590
- Net household movement-9,330
- Adjusted gross income arriving$7.27 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-420.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$103,475
- Average income of a leaving household$96,629
- Largest single originLos Angeles County (6,638 households)
- Largest single destinationRiverside County (7,496 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 6,638 | 9,731 | $892.4 m |
| Riverside County | 4,956 | 8,464 | $367.3 m |
| Orange County | 3,940 | 5,939 | $407.8 m |
| Santa Clara County | 1,755 | 2,882 | $405.6 m |
| San Bernardino County | 1,692 | 2,760 | $123.8 m |
| Maricopa County | 1,653 | 2,618 | $139.8 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 1,612 | 3,484 | $102.4 m |
| Clark County | 1,133 | 1,802 | $108.4 m |
Households arriving report $6,846 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 Los Angeles 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 Diego County
What is the San Diego County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$331.87 bn
- County GDP, 2023$315.27 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.3 percent
- GDP change over five years34.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the California areas BEA publishes4th of 58
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes10th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$100,909
Output grew 5.3 percent in the latest year and 34.3 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 Diego County
Employment by industry in San Diego County
- Covered employment, annual average1,536,541
- Establishments reporting133,031
- Average annual pay$82,854
- Average weekly wage$1,593
- Health care and social assistance, employment222,467
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$66,856
- Accommodation and food services, employment170,776
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$35,930
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment148,122
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$152,586
- Retail trade, employment136,918
- Retail trade, average annual pay$45,583
- Manufacturing, employment111,940
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment90,817
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 222,467 | 44,828 | $66,856 |
| Accommodation and food services | 170,776 | 8,123 | $35,930 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 148,122 | 17,843 | $152,586 |
| Retail trade | 136,918 | 8,917 | $45,583 |
| Manufacturing | 111,940 | 3,688 | $118,398 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 90,817 | 5,108 | $61,696 |
| Construction | 89,940 | 8,865 | $84,397 |
| Other services, except public administration | 55,358 | 8,992 | $47,853 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 222,467 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
San Diego County
How many businesses are in San Diego County?
- Establishments, all industries93,407
- Employment at those establishments1,391,721
- Annual payroll$106.22 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents28.4
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 Diego County
Building permits in San Diego County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202411,572
- Declared construction value permitted$2.67 bn
- Single family units authorized3,377
- Multifamily units authorized8,195
- Multifamily share of units70.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$231,115
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.9
Multifamily is 70.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
San Diego County
SBA loans in San Diego County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded4,475
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$2.44 bn
- Average 7(a) approval$546,106
- Median 7(a) approval$204,500
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,500,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)48,429
- Jobs per approval10.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active171
- Distinct industries receiving approvals542
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms693
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter3,640
- Franchise loans357
- Franchise share of approvals8.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (185)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (673)
- 504 approvals recorded1,743
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.59 bn
- Average 504 approval$913,718
- Median 504 approval$633,000
- Distinct CDCs active15
- 504 jobs per approval13.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.6
- Most active CDCCDC Small Business Finance Corp. (836)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$4.04 bn
The average approval of $546,106 sits well above the median of $204,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.5 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 Diego County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in San Diego County
Do SBA loans in San Diego County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded807
- Paid in full727
- Charged off80
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans9.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure2,812
- Status: Cancelled625
- Status: Paid in full727
- Status: Charged off80
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed231
Of the 807 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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 Diego County
SBA lending by place in San Diego County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending64
- San Diego, approvals1,873
- El Cajon, approvals272
- Escondido, approvals237
- Carlsbad, approvals231
- Chula Vista, approvals226
- Oceanside, approvals224
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 1,873 | $906,698,700 |
| El Cajon | 272 | $185,137,000 |
| Escondido | 237 | $157,548,000 |
| Carlsbad | 231 | $121,144,400 |
| Chula Vista | 226 | $88,685,700 |
| Oceanside | 224 | $133,190,000 |
| Vista | 195 | $120,934,700 |
| San Marcos | 182 | $107,329,700 |
| 56 other borrower cities | 1,035 | $623,154,100 |
San Diego accounts for 1,873 approvals against 272 in El Cajon. 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 Diego County
How large is San Diego County?
- Land area4,207 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties9th of 58
- Width, east to west87.9 mi
- Height, north to south67 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land782
- Establishments per square mile22.20
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 Diego County
Flood risk in San Diego County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community San Diego County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 060284
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book19
- Of those, participating in the NFIP19
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in San Diego County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated San Diego County (community 060284), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places San Diego County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Diego 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 Diego County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20243,288,774
- Households1,171,278
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$106,268
- Median age37.3
Common questions
San Diego County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in San Diego County, California?
The Census Bureau estimates 3,298,799 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 3,288,774, in 1,171,278 households, ranking 2nd of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is San Diego County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.00 percent since the 2020 census base of 3,298,647, to 3,298,799 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 35,738 births against 23,071 deaths, with net migration of 292. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in San Diego County?
$106,268. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $854,700, which is 8.0 times income, and median gross rent is $2,246 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in San Diego County?
93,407 establishments, employing 1,391,721 people with an annual payroll of $106.22 bn. 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 Diego County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 222,467 jobs, 14.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 1,536,541 jobs at an average annual pay of $82,854, or $1,593 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in San Diego County?
4,475 7(a) approvals totaling $2.44 bn since FY2020, across 171 lenders, with a median approval of $204,500, plus 1,743 504 approvals worth $1.59 bn since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in San Diego County get paid back?
Of the 807 loans that have reached a final outcome, 727 were paid in full and 80 charged off, a charge-off rate of 9.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in San Diego County?
11,572 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.67 bn. Multifamily was 70.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for San Diego County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 Diego County come from?
The largest single origin is Los Angeles County, with 6,638 households. Arriving households report an average income of $103,475 against $96,629 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 Diego 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 Diego 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 Diego County
Cities and places in San Diego.
57 Census places lie wholly or partly in San Diego County. All 57 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | city | 1,389,526 | 1,873 | Wholly in this county |
| Chula Vista | city | 276,375 | 226 | Wholly in this county |
| Oceanside | city | 172,242 | 224 | Wholly in this county |
| Escondido | city | 149,668 | 237 | Wholly in this county |
| Carlsbad | city | 114,373 | 231 | Wholly in this county |
| El Cajon | city | 104,449 | 272 | Wholly in this county |
| Vista | city | 99,114 | 195 | Wholly in this county |
| San Marcos | city | 94,882 | 182 | Wholly in this county |
| Encinitas | city | 61,480 | 114 | Wholly in this county |
| La Mesa | city | 60,797 | 87 | Wholly in this county |
| Santee | city | 59,332 | 80 | Wholly in this county |
| National City | city | 58,893 | 82 | Wholly in this county |
| Poway | city | 48,713 | 96 | Wholly in this county |
| La Presa | CDP | 34,962 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fallbrook | CDP | 32,112 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Valley | CDP | 31,969 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Lemon Grove | city | 27,686 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Imperial Beach | city | 25,764 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Ramona | CDP | 22,634 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeside | CDP | 22,447 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| Winter Gardens | CDP | 22,131 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rancho San Diego | CDP | 21,272 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Casa de Oro-Mount Helix | CDP | 19,765 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Coronado | city | 19,015 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Bostonia | CDP | 16,765 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Camp Pendleton South | CDP | 15,766 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alpine | CDP | 15,180 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Solana Beach | city | 12,823 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Bonita | CDP | 12,652 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Valley Center | CDP | 11,119 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| San Diego Country Estates | CDP | 10,223 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Camp Pendleton Mainside | CDP | 9,501 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jamul | CDP | 6,574 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Eucalyptus Hills | CDP | 5,840 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake San Marcos | CDP | 4,693 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bonsall | CDP | 4,332 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Harbison Canyon | CDP | 4,328 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Del Mar | city | 3,903 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Granite Hills | CDP | 3,795 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hidden Meadows | CDP | 3,524 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crest | CDP | 2,775 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Campo | CDP | 2,729 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairbanks Ranch | CDP | 2,703 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Borrego Springs | CDP | 2,700 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Harmony Grove | CDP | 2,585 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rancho Santa Fe | CDP | 2,260 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Rainbow | CDP | 2,029 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pine Valley | CDP | 1,786 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Julian | CDP | 1,751 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Descanso | CDP | 1,590 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Pala | CDP | 914 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boulevard | CDP | 752 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Jacumba | CDP | 740 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elfin Forest | CDP | 592 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Potrero | CDP | 417 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Del Dios | CDP | 379 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mount Laguna | CDP | 93 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 159 of the county's 4,475 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in San Diego County, the largest being La Jolla (86), San Ysidro (23), Cardiff By The Sea (14). 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.
Nearby