How many renters in San Luis Obispo, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in San Luis Obispo, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

67.0% (±4.1 points) of renting households in San Luis Obispo, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

61.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 44.7% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 67.0% (±4.1 points)
Paying 35% or more: 61.1% (±3.8 points)
Median share of income: 44.7% (±4.6 points)

Rent as a share of income in San Luis Obispo

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California	United States
Less than 15%	9.0% (±2.2 points)	9.0%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	9.3% (±2.1 points)	11.2%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	6.7% (±1.6 points)	10.4%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	8.0% (±2.4 points)	11.8%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	5.9% (±1.5 points)	9.2%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	61.1% (±3.8 points)	48.3%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

San Luis Obispo against San Luis Obispo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	San Luis Obispo	San Luis Obispo County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	67.0% (±4.1 points)	57.5% (±2.6 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	61.1% (±3.8 points)	48.3% (±2.2 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	44.7% (±4.6 points)	34.1% (±1.1 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$48,522 (±$4,137)	$65,806 (±$3,300)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,965 (±$82)	$1,992 (±$45)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In San Luis Obispo, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in San Luis Obispo County (57.5%).

It is also higher than in California (55.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo ranks 6 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 165 of 1,067.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near San Luis Obispo

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with San Luis Obispo
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
San Luis Obispo	—	67.0% (±4.1 points)	—
California Polytechnic State University	2.8 mi	100.0% (±128.1 points)	Not measurably different
Los Ranchos	4.3 mi	0.0% (±78.9 points)	Not measurably different
Avila Beach	5.5 mi	62.0% (±62.4 points)	Not measurably different
Pismo Beach	7.8 mi	50.0% (±12.2 points)	Lower
Santa Margarita	9.2 mi	95.6% (±77.3 points)	Not measurably different
Los Osos	9.2 mi	48.5% (±12.0 points)	Lower
Grover Beach	10 mi	51.3% (±13.2 points)	Lower
Arroyo Grande	11 mi	63.1% (±13.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Pismo Beach, CA (50.0%), Los Osos, CA (48.5%), Grover Beach, CA (51.3%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across San Luis Obispo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1 (tie)	California Polytechnic State University	100.0% (±128.1 points)
1 (tie)	Shandon	100.0% (±113.0 points)
1 (tie)	Woodlands	100.0% (±119.9 points)
4	Santa Margarita	95.6% (±77.3 points)
5	Cambria	72.0% (±17.1 points)
6	San Luis Obispo	67.0% (±4.1 points)
7	Arroyo Grande	63.1% (±13.9 points)
8	Avila Beach	62.0% (±62.4 points)
9	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)	60.1% (±7.7 points)
10 (tie)	Atascadero	53.2% (±7.0 points)
10 (tie)	Templeton	53.2% (±18.8 points)
12	San Miguel (San Luis Obispo County)	52.0% (±28.4 points)

Showing 12 of 22 places in San Luis Obispo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about San Luis Obispo

Are renters in San Luis Obispo rent-burdened?

67.0% of renting households in San Luis Obispo pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in San Luis Obispo spend on rent?

The median renting household in San Luis Obispo, CA spends 44.7% (±4.6 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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 Luis Obispo city, California (place:68154, in state:06).

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

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.