Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Chula Vista, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

276,375

Median Agei

37.1

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

61.1%168,934

White

15.3%42,245

Asian

14.2%39,180

Black

4.7%12,959

Two or More

3.9%10,643

Other

0.5%1,442

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.3%712

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%260

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.4%6,324

High School Diploma

18.1%33,436

Some College (<1 yr)

7.2%13,361

Some College (1+ yr)

14.9%27,544

Associate's Degree

9.4%17,288

Bachelor's Degree

22.1%40,774

Master's Degree

8.3%15,316

Professional Degree

1.8%3,331

Doctorate

1%1,834

HS or Higher

86.2%

BA or Higher

33.2%

Graduate+

11.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$758,700

Median Renti

$2,229

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

59.8%51,281

Renter-Occupied

40.2%34,429

Total Units

90,273

Homeownership

59.8%

Vacancy Rate

5.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

3.3%1,708

$50K–$100K

2.8%1,443

$100K–$150K

0.9%467

$150K–$200K

0.3%172

$200K–$300K

1.4%694

$300K–$500K

7.3%3,747

$500K–$1M

66%33,837

$1M+

18%9,213

Rent Distribution

Under $500

560

$500–$750

340

$750–$1,000

531

$1,000–$1,250

1,193

$1,250–$1,500

2,418

$1,500–$2,000

7,954

$2,000+

20,604

Year Built

2020 or later

2.1%1,910

2010–2019

9.5%8,599

2000–2009

22.4%20,230

1990–1999

12.1%10,883

1980–1989

11.5%10,373

1970–1979

14.1%12,693

1960–1969

12.7%11,437

1950–1959

11.8%10,686

1940–1949

2.5%2,297

1939 or earlier

1.3%1,165

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

63.4%54,315

Electricity

29.6%25,386

No Fuel

2.6%2,211

Solar

2.5%2,160

Bottled/LP Gas

1.5%1,307

Wood

0.2%189

Other

0.1%119

Fuel Oil

0%23

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$108,032

Mean Household Incomei

$130,301

Per Capita Incomei

$41,343

Poverty Ratei

8.7%

Unemploymenti

7.7%

Labor Forcei

143,904

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.5%2,972

$10K–$15K

2.5%2,102

$15K–$20K

2.3%1,958

$20K–$25K

2.2%1,868

$25K–$30K

2.2%1,891

$30K–$35K

2.8%2,380

$35K–$40K

2.8%2,434

$40K–$45K

2.6%2,223

$45K–$50K

2.2%1,918

$50K–$60K

4.7%4,062

$60K–$75K

7.5%6,433

$75K–$100K

11.4%9,743

$100K–$125K

10.9%9,303

$125K–$150K

9%7,748

$150K–$200K

15.7%13,467

$200K+

17.7%15,208

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

4,159

Residentsi

8,153

Avg. Tenant Renti

$697/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

40 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing121 homes95% occupied$778/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers3,656 homes77% occupied$722/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8380 homes99% occupied$431/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC3 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $108,032/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $32K/yr

84.3%

Very low income$32K–$54K/yr

12%

Low income$54K–$86K/yr

3.7%

Who Receives This Housing

77.2% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

83.4% of subsidized households are minority

25.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

48.3% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

81,25529.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

51,355

Philippines

15,130

Korea

1,288

China

1,181

Guatemala

448

United Kingdom

445

India

404

Canada

354

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

129,820

Avg. Commutei

28.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

127,605

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

17,156(8.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.6%Insured

6.4%Uninsured

Chula Vista, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026