What percentage of people rent in San Carlos, CA?

Name: Renters and owners in San Carlos, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

32.2% (±2.8 points) of the occupied homes in San Carlos, CA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 3,537 renting households against 7,464 that own their home.

In San Carlos, the share of households that rent went from 27.6% in 2015–2019 to 32.2% in 2020–2024 (+4.6 percentage points), a measurable increase.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 32.2% (±2.8 points)
Renting households: 3,537 (±321)
Median renter income: $133,724 (±$15,613)

Who rents and who owns in San Carlos

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	San Carlos	San Mateo County	California	United States
Renter-occupied share	32.2% (±2.8 points)	41.5% (±0.7 points)	44.1% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	3,537 (±321)	109,812 (±1,879)	5,980,523 (±22,985)	45,017,354
Owning households	7,464 (±362)	154,607 (±1,889)	7,567,568 (±37,334)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.2 (±0.1)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.9 (±0.1)	2.9 (±0.0)	3.0 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$133,724 (±$15,613)	$119,424 (±$3,650)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$250,000 or more	$197,950 (±$4,038)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009

In San Carlos, the renter share is lower than in San Mateo County (41.5%).

It is also lower than in California (44.1%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (34.8%).

In San Mateo County, San Carlos ranks 16 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 586 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in San Carlos has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	27.6% (±2.1 points)	32.2% (±2.8 points)	+4.6 percentage points	Measurable increase
Median gross rent	$2,321 (±$89)	$2,854 (±$128)	+23.0%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$182,083 (±$9,728)	$237,470 (±$15,954)	+30.4%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near San Carlos

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Carlos
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
San Carlos	—	32.2% (±2.8 points)	—
Belmont	1.8 mi	45.2% (±3.5 points)	Higher
Emerald Lake Hills	2.3 mi	9.2% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Redwood City	3.2 mi	51.4% (±1.8 points)	Higher
North Fair Oaks	3.9 mi	52.3% (±5.2 points)	Higher
Highlands	4.5 mi	15.3% (±4.9 points)	Lower
Baywood Park	4.6 mi	10.3% (±9.0 points)	Lower
Foster City	4.6 mi	49.2% (±2.7 points)	Higher
Atherton	4.7 mi	12.4% (±6.1 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Emerald Lake Hills, CA (9.2%), Highlands, CA (15.3%), Baywood Park, CA (10.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Belmont, CA (45.2%), Redwood City, CA (51.4%), North Fair Oaks, CA (52.3%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
10	Belmont	45.2% (±3.5 points)
11	South San Francisco	41.0% (±2.2 points)
12	Daly City	39.8% (±2.2 points)
13	Millbrae	39.2% (±3.0 points)
14	San Bruno	37.9% (±2.7 points)
15	Pacifica	32.3% (±2.3 points)
16	San Carlos	32.2% (±2.8 points)
17	La Honda	29.8% (±18.3 points)
18	Half Moon Bay	28.9% (±4.5 points)
19	Broadmoor	27.2% (±9.8 points)
20	Montara	21.8% (±15.4 points)
21	West Menlo Park	21.7% (±7.6 points)
22	Portola Valley	21.2% (±7.8 points)

Showing 13 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about San Carlos

How many renters are there in San Carlos?

San Carlos has an estimated 3,537 (±321) renting households, 32.2% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in San Carlos?

In San Carlos, the share of households that rent went from 27.6% in 2015–2019 to 32.2% in 2020–2024 (+4.6 percentage points), a measurable increase.

How big are renting households in San Carlos?

A renting household in San Carlos has 2.2 people on average, against 2.9 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in San Carlos?

The median renting household in San Carlos, CA has an income of $133,724 (±$15,613) a year, against $250,000 or more for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for San Carlos city, California (place:65070, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.