Metro area profile · California
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 282,367
- 0.0% since 2020
- Households
- 109,503
- Median household income
- $97,446
- +32.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $824,700
- Jobs located here
- 112,621
- Highest market score
- 72
- Funeral homes, #61 of 377 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 282,367 people live in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area, in 109,503 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area held about level, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area is $97,446 a year, 21% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 32.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (98).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area are for funeral homes (72), barbershops (70) and convenience stores (70). The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area ranks #61 of 377 scored metro areas for funeral homes.
The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area is made up of one county, San Luis Obispo County. For its number of households, the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for roofing and gutter companies (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral homes | 72 | #61 of 377 | 12 | 1.1 | $1.5M | 226 | 11 |
| Barbershops | 70 | #52 of 387 | 53 | 4.8 | $2.3M | 123 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 70 | #59 of 387 | 60 | 5.5 | $11.8M | 150 | 19 |
| Gas stations | 70 | #65 of 387 | 91 | 8.3 | $3.6M | 149 | 79 |
| Home inspectors | 68 | #31 of 243 | 5 | 0.5 | Index only | 163 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 67 | #67 of 387 | 44 | 4.0 | $3M | 118 | 16 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #60 of 387 | 267 | 24.4 | $460K | 107 | 39 |
| Tire shops | 65 | #100 of 386 | 34 | 3.1 | $3.9M | 154 | 19 |
| Auto repair and car care | 64 | #89 of 387 | 394 | 36.0 | $333K | 124 | 173 |
| Roofing and gutters | 61 | #100 of 381 | 18 | 1.6 | $19.1M | 226 | 32 |
| Auto repair shops | 61 | #104 of 387 | 245 | 22.4 | $535K | 120 | 124 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #102 of 387 | 57 | 5.2 | $2.6M | 129 | 36 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 58 | #144 of 381 | 30 | 2.7 | $4.4M | 142 | 36 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 55 | #128 of 290 | 10 | 0.9 | $13.1M | 95 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 55 | #149 of 387 | 115 | 10.5 | $3M | 123 | 264 |
| Child care and preschools | 55 | #161 of 387 | 75 | 6.8 | $1.2M | 122 | 102 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #161 of 387 | 578 | 52.8 | $213K | 100 | 101 |
| Dry cleaners | 52 | #138 of 272 | 11 | 1.0 | $20.1M | 128 | 10 |
| Physical therapy | 52 | #174 of 386 | 60 | 5.5 | $2.6M | 109 | 48 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 52 | #181 of 387 | 65 | 5.9 | $5.3M | 111 | 121 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 51 | #190 of 386 | 47 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 102 | 29 |
| Insurance agencies | 50 | #181 of 387 | 150 | 13.7 | $1.5M | 121 | 110 |
| Pest control | 49 | #176 of 345 | 14 | 1.3 | $11.4M | 111 | 22 |
| Nail salons | 48 | #205 of 387 | 63 | 5.8 | $1.9M | 117 | 34 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #206 of 387 | 151 | 13.8 | $3.2M | 106 | 294 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #208 of 387 | 231 | 21.1 | $642K | 97 | 80 |
| Gyms | 48 | #209 of 387 | 120 | 11.0 | $1.2M | 95 | 44 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #210 of 387 | 66 | 6.0 | $2.4M | 133 | 341 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #219 of 387 | 213 | 19.5 | $3.3M | 98 | 81 |
| Laundromats | 41 | #236 of 364 | 23 | 2.1 | $9.6M | 77 | 6 |
| Electricians | 40 | #269 of 383 | 32 | 2.9 | $10.8M | 90 | 111 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #270 of 387 | 1,030 | 94.1 | $152K | 100 | 628 |
| House cleaning | 38 | #286 of 375 | 32 | 2.9 | $5M | 78 | 70 |
| Spas and skin care | 38 | #311 of 387 | 183 | 16.7 | $671K | 77 | 24 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 35 | #302 of 387 | 120 | 11.0 | $1.3M | 79 | 259 |
| Pizza | 35 | #305 of 387 | 110 | 10.0 | $4.4M | 87 | 294 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 34 | #285 of 385 | 74 | 6.8 | $2.2M | 73 | 167 |
| Pet businesses | 32 | #324 of 387 | 186 | 17.0 | $658K | 75 | 105 |
| Chiropractors | 32 | #340 of 386 | 95 | 8.7 | $1.6M | 69 | 47 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #359 of 387 | 519 | 47.4 | Index only | 76 | 180 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 31 | #317 of 347 | 54 | 4.9 | $2.7M | 68 | 44 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 31 | #329 of 386 | 71 | 6.5 | $2.2M | 70 | 21 |
| Veterinarians | 30 | #324 of 384 | 64 | 5.8 | $1.9M | 70 | 58 |
| Grocery stores | 30 | #325 of 387 | 89 | 8.1 | $8M | 86 | 62 |
| Real estate | 30 | #371 of 387 | 678 | 61.9 | Index only | 73 | 357 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #321 of 387 | 231 | 21.1 | $959K | 75 | 121 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 29 | #324 of 387 | 314 | 28.7 | $705K | 80 | 137 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 28 | #352 of 387 | 182 | 16.6 | $860K | 87 | 154 |
| Property management | 28 | #358 of 374 | 65 | 5.9 | Index only | 59 | 105 |
| Pet stores | 27 | #344 of 382 | 45 | 4.1 | $2.7M | 60 | 18 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 27 | #364 of 373 | 89 | 8.1 | Index only | 62 | 39 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 26 | #358 of 387 | 895 | 81.7 | $544K | 82 | 351 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 26 | #366 of 387 | 165 | 15.1 | $3M | 71 | 144 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 25 | #366 of 387 | 227 | 20.7 | $2.1M | 58 | 128 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 24 | #363 of 387 | 2,190 | 200.0 | $222K | 60 | 775 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.4 | $39.1M | 159 | 17 |
Household spending in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 | $131.1M | $1,197 | 125 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $323.9M | $2,958 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $486.8M | $4,446 | 109 |
| Groceries | $707.9M | $6,465 | 102 |
| Personal care products and services | $122.8M | $1,122 | 112 |
| Child care and other personal services | $91.3M | $834 | 144 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $148.2M | $1,354 | 138 |
| Medical and dental services | $156.6M | $1,430 | 111 |
| Pets | $122.3M | $1,117 | 123 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $221.5M | $2,023 | 98 |
| Vehicle insurance | $227.2M | $2,075 | 106 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $344.1M | $3,143 | 104 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $159.2M | $1,454 | 103 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.1B | $19,548 | 117 |
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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 282,3670.0% since 2020
- Households
- 109,503
- Median age
- 42.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 3,301 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 85
- Median household income
- $97,446+32.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $132,001
- Median home value
- $824,700
- Jobs located here
- 112,621
- Daytime population
- 276,085Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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
Counties in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area 1
- San Luis Obispo County, CA281,555 people
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Questions
How fast is the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area at 282,367 people in 2025, unchanged since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 109,503 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 32.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area spend?
Households in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area spend about $2.1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $707.9M on groceries and $486.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 144, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (98).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area, funeral homes (72), barbershops (70) and convenience stores (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For funeral homes, that ranks #61 of 377 scored metro areas.
How does the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area is $97,446, 21% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population held level from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $824,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for roofing and gutter companies (56% 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. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area?
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The button opens the report at the center of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles 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.