City profile
San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo County · Population 48,491
San Luis Obispo is a town in San Luis Obispo County, CA with about 48,491 residents and a typical home value near $935,000. It is 161 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
56°F
Summer avg
73°F
Sunny days / yr
284
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$935,100
Typical monthly housing
$5,633
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
165
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Drought, Landslide, Wildfire
Nearest major airport
117 mi to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 54% Democratic / 43% Republican
Community
Population
48,491
Black population
1.2%
County
San Luis Obispo County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 48,491 residents
- Typical home value about $935,000
- 161 miles from Los Angeles, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.