San Luis Obispo, CA Demographics

A map of San Luis Obispo's Population by Race

San Luis Obispo, California has an estimated population of 48,491, an increase from the 47,063 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 69.1% White, 18.4% Hispanic, 5.3% Asian, 5.3% Multiracial, 1.2% Black, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of San Luis Obispo, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

San Luis Obispo has become less racially diverse since 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 San Luis Obispo, that probability was 50.1% in 2020 and 48.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

San Luis Obispo is ranked the 194th 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). San Luis Obispo was ranked the 202nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

San Luis Obispo's White Population

33,516 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 69.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in San Luis Obispo is significantly higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. San Luis Obispo ranks 619th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's White population has grown by an estimated 5.3%. White residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has increased from 67.6% to 69.1%.

San Luis Obispo is more White than neighboring California Polytechnic State University (52.2% White), and Edna (63.9% White). San Luis Obispo is less White than neighboring Los Ranchos (85.1% White), Avila Beach (86.2% White), and Pismo Beach (79.2% White).

San Luis Obispo's Black Population

576 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in San Luis Obispo is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. San Luis Obispo ranks 716th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's Black population has grown by an estimated 20.5%. Black residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

San Luis Obispo is more Black than neighboring Los Ranchos (0% Black), Edna (0% Black), Avila Beach (0% Black), and Pismo Beach (0.5% Black).

San Luis Obispo's Asian Population

2,559 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 5.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in San Luis Obispo is lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. San Luis Obispo ranks 425th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's Asian population has declined by an estimated 9.0%. Asian residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has decreased from 6.0% to 5.3%.

San Luis Obispo is more Asian than neighboring Los Ranchos (1.5% Asian), Avila Beach (0% Asian), and Pismo Beach (3% Asian). San Luis Obispo is less Asian than neighboring California Polytechnic State University (15.2% Asian), and Edna (5.8% Asian).

San Luis Obispo's Hispanic Population

8,929 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 18.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in San Luis Obispo is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. San Luis Obispo ranks 917th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. Hispanic residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has remained roughly unchanged at 18.4%.

San Luis Obispo is more Hispanic than neighboring Los Ranchos (11.6% Hispanic), Edna (0% Hispanic), Avila Beach (9.9% Hispanic), and Pismo Beach (10.8% Hispanic). San Luis Obispo is less Hispanic than neighboring California Polytechnic State University (23.8% Hispanic).

San Luis Obispo's Native American/Other Population

350 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in San Luis Obispo is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. San Luis Obispo ranks 1060th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 22.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

San Luis Obispo is more Native American/Other than neighboring California Polytechnic State University (0% Native American/Other), Los Ranchos (0% Native American/Other), and Edna (0% Native American/Other). San Luis Obispo is less Native American/Other than neighboring Avila Beach (3.2% Native American/Other), and Pismo Beach (3.7% Native American/Other).

San Luis Obispo's Multiracial Population

2,561 residents of San Luis Obispo, or 5.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in San Luis Obispo is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. San Luis Obispo ranks 509th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, San Luis Obispo's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 7.4%. Multiracial residents' share of San Luis Obispo's population has decreased from 5.9% to 5.3%.

San Luis Obispo is more Multiracial than neighboring Los Ranchos (1.8% Multiracial), Avila Beach (0.7% Multiracial), and Pismo Beach (2.9% Multiracial). San Luis Obispo is less Multiracial than neighboring California Polytechnic State University (7.6% Multiracial), and Edna (30.3% 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.