Population
3,282,248
2025
−0.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
San Diego County, CA: population growth, jobs and income
San Diego County lost 5,294 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.2%).
San Diego County had an estimated 3,282,248 residents in 2025, down 0.6% (18,862 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than California as a whole (−0.4%), and the 28th fastest growth of 58 counties in California.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the San Diego County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for San Diego County, ranked against California and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$2,246/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes6.3%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months10,4662025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−23,876
2025
−7.3 per 1,000 residents
−133,070 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.6%
2025
+1.4 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
11,707
2025
+16.5% since 2021
3.6 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$106,268
2020–24
+28.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
1,391,721
2023
+7.7% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 23,876 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 1,391,721 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.6% in 2025, 1.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 11,707 new homes in 2025, or 3.6 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $106,268 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +28.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,069th.
Part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area.
Get San Diego County’s next numbers by email
Email me when San Diego County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
San Diego County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,282,248 | −5,294 |
| 2024 | 3,287,542 | +7,806 |
| 2023 | 3,279,736 | +647 |
| 2022 | 3,279,089 | +6,488 |
| 2021 | 3,272,601 | −28,509 |
| 2020 | 3,301,110 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in San Diego County
San Diego County lost 18,862 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−133,070).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +12,462 | +59,632 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +6,132 | +57,817 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −23,876 | −133,070 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −12 | −3,241 | |
| Total change | −5,294 | −18,862 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In California | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 28th of 58 | 2,069th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 41st of 58 | 2,735th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 24th of 58 | 902nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 14th of 58 | 117th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 12th of 58 | 2,166th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 12th of 58 | 952nd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for San Diego County, CA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Orange County and Riverside County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the San Diego County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, San Diego County's population change (−0.6%) was ahead of 1 of its 3 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (Riverside County and Imperial County).
Only Orange County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 3 neighbouring counties; San Diego County's was $106,268.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego County, CA This county | 3,282,248 | −0.6% | −7.3 | 3.6 | $106,268 |
| Riverside County, CA | 2,544,916 | +5.0% | 3.0 | 3.8 | $93,074 |
| Orange County, CA | 3,149,507 | −1.2% | −8.1 | 1.6 | $116,289 |
| Imperial County, CA | 181,411 | +1.0% | −12.3 | 1.3 | $57,681 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is San Diego County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 18,862 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). California as a whole changed −0.4% over the same years. That ranks 28th of 58 counties in California for population growth.
How many people moved to San Diego County?
On net, none in 2025: about 23,876 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in San Diego County?
It averaged 4.6% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of San Diego County?
About 3,282,248 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in San Diego County?
Private employers there had 1,391,721 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in California
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other California county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
San Diego County data alerts
Email me when San Diego County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.