State rank#24 of 58
Smallest county281,555 residentsLos Angeles County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 06079
San Luis Obispo County, California
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population281,555
Household income$97,446
Unemployment4.1%
Life expectancy80.7 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
San Luis Obispo County has 281,555 residents and ranks #24 by population among California county equivalents. Median household income is $97,446. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within California
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to San Luis Obispo County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside San Luis Obispo County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $824,700 median home value and $1,992/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,446, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
San Luis Obispo County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, mental health access, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 39.8% and life expectancy is 80.7 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 4.1%, rank #6 of 58 available California counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 136 residents, rank #7 of 58 available California counties.
- Poor or fair health: 15.1%, rank #8 of 58 available California counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $824,700, rank #47 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,992/mo, rank #39 of 56; investigate local variation before moving.
- Uninsured: 7.2%, rank #28 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within California
Rank and range use only counties in California with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$97,446
$97,446; above the state county median of $83,473.
State rank #20 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$824,700
$824,700; above the state county median of $481,100.
State rank #47 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,992/mo
$1,992/mo; above the state county median of $1,624/mo.
State rank #39 of 56 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.1%
4.1%; below the state county median of 5.5%.
State rank #6 of 58 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
39.8%
39.8%; above the state county median of 25.7%.
State rank #15 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
80.7 years
80.7 years; above the state county median of 78.2 years.
State rank #15 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.1%
15.1%; below the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #8 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.2%
7.2%; below the state county median of 7.3%.
State rank #28 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,205 residents
1 per 1,205 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,459 residents.
State rank #18 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 136 residents
1 per 136 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 247 residents.
State rank #7 of 58 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
San Luis Obispo County FAQ
Is San Luis Obispo County a good place to live?
San Luis Obispo County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, mental health access, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 39.8% and life expectancy is 80.7 years.
What should I know before moving to San Luis Obispo County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $824,700 median home value and $1,992/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,446, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of San Luis Obispo County?
San Luis Obispo County has 281,555 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for San Luis Obispo County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 06079; the parent state FIPS is 06.
What is the median household income in San Luis Obispo County?
The ACS median household income is $97,446.
How much does housing cost in San Luis Obispo County?
Housing benchmarks are $824,700 median home value and $1,992/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,446, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in San Luis Obispo County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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