Metro area profile · California
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 3,282,248
- −0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 1,171,278
- Median household income
- $106,268
- +34.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $854,700
- Jobs located here
- 1,516,991
- Highest market score
- 71
- Gas stations, #54 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 3,282,248 people live in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, in 1,171,278 households. Population estimates put the population change in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area from 2020 to 2025 at −0.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is $106,268 a year, 32% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 34.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 158, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (98).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area are for gas stations (71), funeral homes (70) and oil change and quick-lube shops (67). The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area ranks #54 of 387 scored metro areas for gas stations.
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is made up of one county, San Diego County. For its number of households, the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 71 | #54 of 387 | 705 | 6.0 | $4.6M | 191 | 572 |
| Funeral homes | 70 | #71 of 377 | 116 | 1.0 | $1.4M | 213 | 60 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 67 | #58 of 290 | 70 | 0.6 | $18.9M | 137 | 76 |
| Roofing and gutters | 66 | #68 of 381 | 229 | 2.0 | $17M | 201 | 253 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 65 | #109 of 385 | 529 | 4.5 | $3.4M | 116 | 943 |
| Car washes and detailing | 64 | #86 of 387 | 409 | 3.5 | $3.2M | 128 | 185 |
| Convenience stores | 64 | #100 of 387 | 726 | 6.2 | $10.8M | 137 | 280 |
| Home repair trades | 61 | #107 of 387 | 1,216 | 10.4 | $3.2M | 132 | 2,283 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 61 | #120 of 387 | 1,804 | 15.4 | $4.3M | 128 | 860 |
| Tire shops | 60 | #133 of 386 | 395 | 3.4 | $3.3M | 134 | 188 |
| Child care and preschools | 59 | #123 of 387 | 767 | 6.5 | $1.4M | 140 | 883 |
| Veterinarians | 59 | #127 of 384 | 421 | 3.6 | $3.3M | 121 | 371 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 59 | #135 of 381 | 334 | 2.9 | $4M | 128 | 308 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 58 | #127 of 387 | 727 | 6.2 | $5.3M | 112 | 1,072 |
| Electricians | 57 | #133 of 383 | 260 | 2.2 | $15M | 125 | 958 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 56 | #143 of 387 | 1,097 | 9.4 | $1.6M | 97 | 1,920 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #145 of 387 | 1,363 | 11.6 | $1M | 116 | 803 |
| Pizza | 55 | #153 of 387 | 819 | 7.0 | $6.7M | 132 | 3,086 |
| Home inspectors | 54 | #103 of 243 | 72 | 0.6 | Index only | 126 | 118 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 54 | #164 of 386 | 477 | 4.1 | $2.9M | 115 | 303 |
| Grocery stores | 54 | #174 of 387 | 657 | 5.6 | $11.9M | 128 | 580 |
| Gyms | 53 | #155 of 387 | 1,134 | 9.7 | $1.5M | 118 | 578 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 52 | #184 of 387 | 1,531 | 13.1 | $3.6M | 118 | 3,086 |
| Auto repair and car care | 52 | #190 of 387 | 4,514 | 38.5 | $293K | 109 | 1,898 |
| Auto repair shops | 50 | #200 of 387 | 2,741 | 23.4 | $482K | 108 | 1,358 |
| Pest control | 49 | #178 of 345 | 176 | 1.5 | $10.2M | 100 | 182 |
| Hair salons | 49 | #190 of 387 | 3,023 | 25.8 | $457K | 106 | 847 |
| Physical therapy | 49 | #196 of 386 | 668 | 5.7 | $2.6M | 110 | 577 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #204 of 387 | 2,551 | 21.8 | $684K | 103 | 1,110 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 48 | #209 of 387 | 816 | 7.0 | $2.1M | 106 | 532 |
| Barbershops | 48 | #209 of 387 | 718 | 6.1 | $1.9M | 102 | 81 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #212 of 387 | 790 | 6.7 | $2.2M | 125 | 2,821 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 46 | #114 of 197 | 101 | 0.9 | $17.4M | 71 | 86 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 44 | #257 of 386 | 581 | 5.0 | $3M | 97 | 231 |
| Pet stores | 43 | #249 of 382 | 320 | 2.7 | $4.3M | 96 | 129 |
| Chiropractors | 41 | #256 of 386 | 818 | 7.0 | $2.2M | 90 | 435 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 40 | #269 of 387 | 2,111 | 18.0 | $1.2M | 93 | 1,090 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 40 | #278 of 387 | 1,294 | 11.0 | $4.3M | 103 | 1,228 |
| Nail salons | 40 | #291 of 387 | 796 | 6.8 | $1.7M | 104 | 574 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 38 | #290 of 387 | 12,001 | 102.5 | $147K | 96 | 6,077 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #323 of 387 | 6,759 | 57.7 | $205K | 96 | 1,974 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 36 | #286 of 387 | 15,547 | 132.7 | $354K | 95 | 6,900 |
| Laundromats | 35 | #273 of 364 | 225 | 1.9 | $11.1M | 89 | 117 |
| House cleaning | 35 | #303 of 375 | 392 | 3.3 | $4.6M | 72 | 795 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #311 of 387 | 8,880 | 75.8 | $619K | 93 | 2,650 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 34 | #298 of 387 | 3,237 | 27.6 | $774K | 88 | 1,384 |
| Dry cleaners | 30 | #234 of 272 | 191 | 1.6 | $13.1M | 84 | 177 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 30 | #371 of 387 | 5,499 | 46.9 | Index only | 80 | 2,942 |
| Insurance agencies | 29 | #314 of 387 | 2,032 | 17.3 | $1.1M | 88 | 1,293 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 29 | #322 of 347 | 601 | 5.1 | $2.9M | 72 | 578 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 29 | #344 of 387 | 1,998 | 17.1 | $2.8M | 74 | 1,123 |
| Spas and skin care | 29 | #367 of 387 | 1,995 | 17.0 | $693K | 79 | 439 |
| Property management | 28 | #357 of 374 | 646 | 5.5 | Index only | 67 | 1,510 |
| Real estate | 28 | #376 of 387 | 7,202 | 61.5 | Index only | 77 | 5,736 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 25 | #363 of 387 | 2,226 | 19.0 | $790K | 80 | 1,927 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 25 | #367 of 373 | 985 | 8.4 | Index only | 62 | 550 |
Household spending in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $1.3B | $1,128 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $3.2B | $2,746 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $5.5B | $4,696 | 115 |
| Groceries | $7.8B | $6,677 | 106 |
| Personal care products and services | $1.4B | $1,180 | 117 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.1B | $919 | 158 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $1.7B | $1,490 | 152 |
| Medical and dental services | $1.8B | $1,502 | 117 |
| Pets | $1.4B | $1,187 | 131 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $2.5B | $2,138 | 104 |
| Vehicle insurance | $2.3B | $1,922 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $3.9B | $3,320 | 110 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $1.8B | $1,531 | 108 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $23.9B | $20,407 | 122 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 3,282,248−0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 1,171,278
- Median age
- 38.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 55%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 4,211 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 781
- Median household income
- $106,268+34.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $141,250
- Median home value
- $854,700
- Jobs located here
- 1,516,991
- Daytime population
- 3,269,716Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area at 3,282,248 people in 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 1,171,278 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 34.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area spend?
Households in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area spend about $23.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $7.8B on groceries and $5.5B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 158, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (98).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, gas stations (71), funeral homes (70) and oil change and quick-lube shops (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #54 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area is $106,268, 32% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $854,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area?
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The button opens the report at the center of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.