Demographics of Carlsbad

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Carlsbad had a population of 114,746 at the 2020 census^[1][2], up from 105,328 in 2010^[1][2]. The Census Bureau's 2025 population estimate for the city is 112,260, a decrease of about 2.2% from the April 1, 2020 estimates base of 114,732^[1]. The City of Carlsbad's own financial reporting, drawing on Census Bureau and MuniServices/Avenu Insights & Analytics data, lists a fiscal year 2024-25 population of 116,368, representing about 3.49% of San Diego County's population^[3].

Carlsbad is part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metropolitan statistical area^[2]. The city's demographic profile includes a median age in the low-to-mid 40s, a median household income above the countywide figure, and high rates of educational attainment^[1][3][4]. Detailed figures on age, race and ethnicity, households, income, education and housing are presented below, drawing primarily on the Census Bureau's QuickFacts release and the city's own Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

Population

The 2020 U.S. Census recorded a population of 114,746 in Carlsbad^[1][2], up from 105,328 at the 2010 census^[2]. The Census Bureau’s population estimates program set the 2020 estimates base at 114,732 and estimated the population at 112,260 as of July 1, 2025, a decline of about 2.2% from the 2020 base^[1]. The City of Carlsbad’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report gives a different estimate for fiscal year 2024-25, listing total population at 116,368, equal to about 3.49% of San Diego County’s population and a 1.79% increase over the prior fiscal year^[3].

Carlsbad is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, located 35 miles (56 km) north of downtown San Diego and 87 miles (140 km) south of downtown Los Angeles^[2]. It is part of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area^[2]. Population density was reported at 3,037.8 people per square mile in 2020, up from 2,792.2 per square mile in 2010, over a land area of 37.77 square miles^[1].

Age

According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2020-2024 figures, 4.7% of Carlsbad residents were under age 5, 23.4% were under 18, and 18.8% were 65 or older^[1]. The 2020 census found a similar age structure, with 21.8% under 18, 7.2% aged 18 to 24, 23.0% aged 25 to 44, 29.0% aged 45 to 64, and 18.9% aged 65 or older, for a median age of 43.5 years^[2]. This represented an increase from the 2010 census median age of 40.4 years, when 24.1% of residents were under 18 and 14.0% were 65 or older^[2].

The city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report tracks median age across the past ten fiscal years, recording 42.1 in 2015-16, dipping to 40.5 in 2022-23, and rising to 45.0 in 2024-25^[3]. In 2020, there were 94.5 males for every 100 females in Carlsbad, while the Census Bureau’s most recent QuickFacts estimate lists the female share of the population at 50.3%^[2][1].

Race and ethnicity

Census Bureau QuickFacts estimates for 2020-2024 describe Carlsbad’s population as including shares of White, Asian, Black, Native American, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander residents, with 15.7% identifying as Two or More Races and 0.2% as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone^[1]. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 17.4% of the population in that estimate, while those identifying as White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, made up 65.7%^[1].

The 2020 census reported a somewhat different racial makeup: 72.6% White, 8.0% Asian, 1.07% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 12.7% from two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents of any race at 15.1%^[2]. This compares with the 2010 census, when the city was 82.8% White, 7.1% Asian, 1.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 4.0% other races, and 4.2% two or more races, with 13.3% identifying as Hispanic or Latino^[2]. Within the Carlsbad Unified School District, 2024-2025 enrollment data reported by Ballotpedia show students were 55.7% White, 26.1% Hispanic, 10.3% Two or More Races, 6.1% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 1.3% Black, 0.2% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 0.2% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, differing notably from the broader city’s adult racial composition and from statewide California K-12 figures^[5].

Households and income

Census Bureau QuickFacts estimates for 2020-2024 put the number of households in Carlsbad at 44,038, with an average of 2.58 persons per household^[1]. Median household income over that period was $142,748, and per capita income was $72,390, while 6.9% of residents were reported living in poverty^[1]. About 85.9% of residents age 1 and older lived in the same house one year earlier, and 17.7% of residents age 5 and older spoke a language other than English at home^[1].

The 2020 census recorded 44,775 households, of which 55.9% were married-couple households, 24.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 23.3% were one-person households^[2]. The Census Bureau’s 2023 estimate cited by Wikipedia put median household income at $139,326 and per capita income at $70,896, with 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population below the poverty line^[2]. By comparison, the city’s 2011 median household income was $85,743 and per capita income was $42,712, according to the same source, reflecting substantial growth over the subsequent decade^[2]. The city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report separately tracks per capita personal income over ten fiscal years, rising from $50,838 in 2015-16 to $108,330 in 2024-25, alongside an average household size that fell from 2.68 to 2.50 over the same period^[3].

Education

Among residents age 25 and older, Census Bureau QuickFacts data for 2020-2024 show 96.3% were high school graduates or higher and 62.1% held a bachelor’s degree or higher^[1]. The 2020 census reported slightly different figures of 96.1% and 61.4%, respectively^[2].

The city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report tracks these measures annually, showing the share of residents with a high school diploma rising from 95.6% in 2015-16 to 99.9% in 2024-25, and the share holding a bachelor’s degree or higher rising from 54.8% to 65.2% over the same period, with a peak of 67.9% in 2023-24^[3].

Carlsbad Unified School District enrolled 10,708 students in the 2024-2025 school year, a decline of about 1.2% from the previous year, continuing a gradual decrease from a peak of 11,481 students in 2019-2020^[5]. The district employed 470.69 full-time classroom teachers in 2024-2025, for a student-teacher ratio of 22.75^[5].

Housing

According to Census Bureau QuickFacts, the owner-occupied housing unit rate in Carlsbad for 2020-2024 was 62.9%, the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $1,257,000, and median gross rent was $2,808^[1]. Median selected monthly owner costs were $3,741 for units with a mortgage and $1,092 for units without a mortgage^[1].

The 2020 census reported 47,734 housing units, of which 93.8% were occupied; of occupied units, 64.9% were owner-occupied and 35.1% were renter-occupied^[2]. This compares with the 2010 census, when 64.8% of the 44,673 housing units were owner-occupied and 35.2% were renter-occupied^[2]. Census Bureau estimates also show 98.2% of Carlsbad households had a computer and 96.1% had a broadband internet subscription in 2020-2024^[1].

Population trend

Carlsbad’s population grew from 105,328 at the 2010 census to 114,746 at the 2020 census^[2]. The city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report shows continued fluctuation afterward: population figures for the last ten fiscal years were 112,930 (2015-16), 113,725 (2016-17), 114,622 (2017-18), 115,241 (2018-19), 114,463 (2019-20), 115,501 (2020-21), 115,585 (2021-22), 114,549 (2022-23), 114,319 (2023-24), and 116,368 (2024-25)^[3]. Year-over-year change in that series ranged from a decline of about 0.9% in 2022-23 to growth of about 2.06% in 2015-16 and 1.79% in 2024-25^[3].

Separately, the Census Bureau’s population estimates program put the city’s population at 112,260 as of July 1, 2025, implying a decline of about 2.2% from the April 1, 2020 estimates base of 114,732^[1]. The divergence between the Census Bureau’s estimate and the city’s financial report reflects differing data sources and methodologies, as the city’s figures are compiled using MuniServices/Avenu Insights & Analytics data alongside Census Bureau inputs^[3][1].

Common questions

Related topics

• Economy of Carlsbad
• Major employers in Carlsbad
• Education in Carlsbad
• Geography of Carlsbad
• Government of Carlsbad
• La Costa
• Aviara
• History of Carlsbad

References

All sources retrieved November 2026.

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z} "QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2026.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y} "Carlsbad, California (Wikipedia)". Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2026.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, FY ended June 30, 2025". City of Carlsbad. Retrieved November 2026.
4. ^ "San Diego County, California (Wikipedia)". Wikipedia. Retrieved November 2026.
5. ^ ^{a b c} "Carlsbad Unified School District, California, elections - Ballotpedia". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2026.