Foster City, CA Demographics

A map of Foster City's Population by Race

Foster City, California has an estimated population of 32,792, a slight decrease from the 33,805 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 54.3% Asian, 28.9% White, 7.1% Hispanic, 6.3% Multiracial, 1.7% Native American/Other, and 1.6% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Foster City, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Foster City is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Foster City, that probability was 60.8% in 2020 and 61.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Foster City is ranked the 248th most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Foster City was ranked the 245th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Foster City's White Population

9,476 residents of Foster City, or 28.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Foster City is slightly lower than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Foster City ranks 1157th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's White population has declined by an estimated 11.7%. White residents' share of Foster City's population has decreased from 31.8% to 28.9%.

Foster City is more White than neighboring North Fair Oaks (18.4% White). Foster City is less White than neighboring Redwood City (36.7% White), San Mateo (34.4% White), Belmont (45.8% White), and San Carlos (55.7% White).

Foster City's Black Population

522 residents of Foster City, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Foster City is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Foster City ranks 577th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's Black population has grown by an estimated 9.0%. Black residents' share of Foster City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Foster City is more Black than neighboring San Mateo (1.4% Black), San Carlos (0.6% Black), and North Fair Oaks (0.8% Black). Foster City is less Black than neighboring Redwood City (2.9% Black), and Belmont (1.8% Black).

Foster City's Asian Population

17,816 residents of Foster City, or 54.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Foster City is significantly higher than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Foster City ranks 24th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's Asian population has remained roughly the same. Asian residents' share of Foster City's population has increased from 53.2% to 54.3%.

Foster City is more Asian than neighboring Redwood City (18% Asian), San Mateo (28% Asian), Belmont (30.6% Asian), San Carlos (23.4% Asian), and North Fair Oaks (6.2% Asian).

Foster City's Hispanic Population

2,339 residents of Foster City, or 7.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Foster City is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Foster City ranks 1430th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 3.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Foster City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.1%.

Foster City is less Hispanic than neighboring Redwood City (35.6% Hispanic), San Mateo (27.6% Hispanic), Belmont (13.1% Hispanic), San Carlos (10.9% Hispanic), and North Fair Oaks (72.1% Hispanic).

Foster City's Native American/Other Population

570 residents of Foster City, or 1.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Foster City is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Foster City ranks 706th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 21.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Foster City's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Foster City is more Native American/Other than neighboring Redwood City (1.5% Native American/Other), Belmont (1.5% Native American/Other), and North Fair Oaks (0.1% Native American/Other). Foster City is less Native American/Other than neighboring San Mateo (2.7% Native American/Other), and San Carlos (1.9% Native American/Other).

Foster City's Multiracial Population

2,069 residents of Foster City, or 6.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Foster City is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Foster City ranks 710th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Foster City's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 20.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Foster City's population has increased from 5.1% to 6.3%.

Foster City is more Multiracial than neighboring Redwood City (5.3% Multiracial), San Mateo (6% Multiracial), and North Fair Oaks (2.5% Multiracial). Foster City is less Multiracial than neighboring Belmont (7.1% Multiracial), and San Carlos (7.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.