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.

Vista, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

99,114

Median Agei

35.9

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

49.4%48,933

White

36.2%35,854

Asian

5.6%5,528

Two or More

4.9%4,862

Black

2.7%2,676

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.8%772

Other

0.2%245

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%244

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.1%1,373

High School Diploma

20.7%13,536

Some College (<1 yr)

6.1%3,983

Some College (1+ yr)

16.5%10,812

Associate's Degree

8.1%5,316

Bachelor's Degree

18.9%12,343

Master's Degree

7.3%4,752

Professional Degree

1.9%1,211

Doctorate

1.3%849

HS or Higher

82.8%

BA or Higher

29.3%

Graduate+

10.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$762,400

Median Renti

$2,249

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

51.7%16,703

Renter-Occupied

48.3%15,620

Total Units

33,536

Homeownership

51.7%

Vacancy Rate

3.6%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.2%363

$50K–$100K

2.9%479

$100K–$150K

1.4%236

$150K–$200K

1.4%227

$200K–$300K

2.5%420

$300K–$500K

10.6%1,770

$500K–$1M

62.8%10,485

$1M+

16.3%2,723

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

355

$1,000–$1,250

593

$1,250–$1,500

773

$1,500–$2,000

3,409

$2,000+

9,922

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%583

2010–2019

6.4%2,144

2000–2009

7.1%2,370

1990–1999

19.1%6,396

1980–1989

28.8%9,650

1970–1979

17.8%5,961

1960–1969

9.7%3,239

1950–1959

6.4%2,160

1940–1949

2.1%710

1939 or earlier

1%323

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

59.5%19,227

Electricity

33.8%10,936

Bottled/LP Gas

2.9%942

No Fuel

2.3%748

Solar

0.9%280

Wood

0.5%152

Fuel Oil

0.1%25

Other

0%13

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$94,975

Mean Household Incomei

$126,332

Per Capita Incomei

$42,149

Poverty Ratei

10.4%

Unemploymenti

6.5%

Labor Forcei

53,836

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.8%893

$10K–$15K

1.9%610

$15K–$20K

1.2%379

$20K–$25K

3%962

$25K–$30K

3.8%1,241

$30K–$35K

3%968

$35K–$40K

2.9%928

$40K–$45K

2.5%813

$45K–$50K

3.2%1,042

$50K–$60K

5.5%1,790

$60K–$75K

8.9%2,875

$75K–$100K

14%4,524

$100K–$125K

11.2%3,635

$125K–$150K

7.4%2,392

$150K–$200K

11.3%3,661

$200K+

17.4%5,610

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

715

Residentsi

1,086

Avg. Tenant Renti

$408/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

14 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers118 homes77% occupied$423/mo rent

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

S236/BMIR80 homes

811/PRAC26 homes97% occupied$339/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $94,975/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $28K/yr

99.5%

Very low income$28K–$47K/yr

0.5%

Who Receives This Housing

54.1% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

41% of subsidized households are minority

52.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

71.2% 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

22,34422.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

15,009

Philippines

1,017

India

585

Guatemala

462

Canada

314

China

276

United Kingdom

155

Korea

102

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

49,417

Avg. Commutei

26.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

49,537

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,481(6% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

88.9%Insured

11.1%Uninsured

Vista, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026