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.

Foster City, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

32,792

Median Agei

39.5

Race & Ethnicityi

Asian

54.3%17,816

White

28.9%9,476

Hispanic/Latino

7.1%2,339

Two or More

6.3%2,069

Black

1.6%522

Other

1.4%448

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.2%78

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%44

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

0.7%164

High School Diploma

6.4%1,522

Some College (<1 yr)

3.4%823

Some College (1+ yr)

6.6%1,587

Associate's Degree

5.4%1,282

Bachelor's Degree

33.1%7,935

Master's Degree

28.9%6,922

Professional Degree

3.4%809

Doctorate

8.3%1,995

HS or Higher

96.2%

BA or Higher

73.8%

Graduate+

40.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,838,200

Median Renti

$3,501

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

50.8%6,606

Renter-Occupied

49.2%6,392

Total Units

13,617

Homeownership

50.8%

Vacancy Rate

4.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.6%108

$50K–$100K

0.2%13

$100K–$150K

0.4%29

$150K–$200K

0.6%40

$200K–$300K

0.6%37

$300K–$500K

0.5%34

$500K–$1M

9%597

$1M+

87%5,748

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

101

$2,000+

5,971

Year Built

2020 or later

1.2%160

2010–2019

7.7%1,046

2000–2009

4%551

1990–1999

6.2%843

1980–1989

15.4%2,099

1970–1979

41%5,585

1960–1969

20.8%2,831

1950–1959

2.4%324

1940–1949

0.5%67

1939 or earlier

0.8%111

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

56.7%7,373

Electricity

40.6%5,275

No Fuel

1.3%165

Bottled/LP Gas

1.1%146

Solar

0.2%31

Other

0.1%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$199,143

Mean Household Incomei

$246,457

Per Capita Incomei

$98,585

Poverty Ratei

4.1%

Unemploymenti

4.8%

Labor Forcei

17,702

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.5%199

$10K–$15K

1.6%210

$15K–$20K

0.2%32

$20K–$25K

1.7%217

$25K–$30K

1.4%185

$30K–$35K

0.4%57

$35K–$40K

1.2%161

$40K–$45K

1.3%166

$45K–$50K

1.8%229

$50K–$60K

2.9%378

$60K–$75K

4.2%546

$75K–$100K

6.1%796

$100K–$125K

6.2%805

$125K–$150K

7.9%1,027

$150K–$200K

11.6%1,503

$200K+

49.9%6,487

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

164

Residentsi

271

Avg. Tenant Renti

$438/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers33 homes91% occupied$438/mo rent

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

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $199,143/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $60K/yr

97%

Very low income$60K–$100K/yr

Who Receives This Housing

61% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

73% of subsidized households are minority

13% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

100% 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

16,21849.5%

By Region

Top Countries

China

4,354

India

3,379

Philippines

890

Korea

526

United Kingdom

359

Canada

203

Mexico

169

Germany

137

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

16,647

Avg. Commutei

29.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

16,785

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

600(2.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97.8%Insured

2.2%Uninsured