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.

Santee, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

59,332

Median Agei

40.3

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62.9%37,341

Hispanic/Latino

20.9%12,405

Two or More

7.1%4,199

Asian

6.5%3,858

Black

1.8%1,041

Other

0.5%277

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.3%163

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%48

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.1%1,334

High School Diploma

17.2%7,283

Some College (<1 yr)

7.4%3,156

Some College (1+ yr)

20%8,461

Associate's Degree

9.9%4,212

Bachelor's Degree

23.7%10,053

Master's Degree

9%3,831

Professional Degree

1.5%615

Doctorate

0.8%337

HS or Higher

92.6%

BA or Higher

35%

Graduate+

11.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$727,200

Median Renti

$2,250

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

72.4%15,345

Renter-Occupied

27.6%5,851

Total Units

21,851

Homeownership

72.4%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

1.2%186

$50K–$100K

2.1%320

$100K–$150K

1.8%278

$150K–$200K

1.5%237

$200K–$300K

2.7%413

$300K–$500K

11.1%1,710

$500K–$1M

67.8%10,398

$1M+

11.7%1,803

Rent Distribution

Under $500

151

$500–$750

243

$750–$1,000

102

$1,000–$1,250

119

$1,250–$1,500

240

$1,500–$2,000

1,166

$2,000+

3,567

Year Built

2020 or later

0.8%174

2010–2019

8.8%1,930

2000–2009

9%1,970

1990–1999

8.1%1,775

1980–1989

19.7%4,302

1970–1979

34%7,429

1960–1969

12.5%2,730

1950–1959

6%1,304

1940–1949

0.3%73

1939 or earlier

0.8%164

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

63.9%13,544

Electricity

28.9%6,131

Solar

3.3%692

No Fuel

2.8%592

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%113

Wood

0.5%98

Other

0.1%17

Fuel Oil

0%9

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$113,394

Mean Household Incomei

$133,637

Per Capita Incomei

$49,612

Poverty Ratei

7.7%

Unemploymenti

4.6%

Labor Forcei

30,372

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.8%797

$10K–$15K

2.6%558

$15K–$20K

1.7%354

$20K–$25K

1.7%361

$25K–$30K

2.1%444

$30K–$35K

2.2%462

$35K–$40K

2.9%610

$40K–$45K

2.1%453

$45K–$50K

2.6%550

$50K–$60K

3.7%784

$60K–$75K

6.7%1,411

$75K–$100K

11.2%2,371

$100K–$125K

12.1%2,568

$125K–$150K

11.3%2,394

$150K–$200K

14.8%3,145

$200K+

18.6%3,934

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

664

Residentsi

1,474

Avg. Tenant Renti

$666/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers357 homes77% occupied$737/mo rent

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

Project Based Section 8305 homes97% occupied$582/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC1 homes

811/PRAC1 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $113,394/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $34K/yr

87.5%

Very low income$34K–$57K/yr

10.1%

Low income$57K–$91K/yr

2.4%

Who Receives This Housing

66.5% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

26.2% of subsidized households are minority

21.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

39.5% 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

8,10813.7%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,685

Philippines

1,072

China

242

United Kingdom

239

Canada

Germany

Guatemala

Poland

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

27,866

Avg. Commutei

26.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

28,228

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,940(11% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.9%Insured

3.1%Uninsured