California · GEOID 06085

Santa Clara County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 1,902,047 · 698,837 housing units

Median household income

$164,281

State $102,676

Median home value

$1,490,600

State $795,381

Median gross rent

$2,857

State $2,063

Homeownership rate

55.1%

State 55.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

45.0%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

27.0%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

5.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

9.07

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Santa Clara County	California
Population	1,902,047	39,287,377
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1,473.22	—
Median household income	$164,281	$102,676
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$205,500	—
Households	659,353	—
Average household size	2.82 people	—
Owner-occupied	55.1%	55.9%
Renter-occupied	44.9%	44.1%
Race	29.9% White · 2.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Santa Clara County compared with California.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

56.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 37.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	10.2%	$73,818	$1,845	$243,756
1 earner	29.5%	$141,290	$3,532	$494,910
2 earners	45.7%	$249,364	$6,234	$897,198
3+ earners	14.7%	$215,839	$5,396	$772,406

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

659,353

Average size: 2.82 people

Households with children

197,709

30.0% of households

Per-capita income

$80,312

Poverty rate: 6.6%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

55.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 55.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 61.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 16.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

59.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,975.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $1,490,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $2,857.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 39,484 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.5% · For rent 41.0% · Seasonal 9.9% · Other 30.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

59.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 40.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.6%

3,907 units of 698,837 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

1.7%

11,947 units of 698,837 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$131,425

100% MHI$164,281

120% MHI$197,137

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Santa Clara County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$113,700	$129,950	$162,400
100% AMI	$143,850	$164,400	$205,500
120% AMI	$172,600	$197,300	$246,600

HUD FMR Area: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

45.0% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (21.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

27.0% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Santa Clara County.

Covered employment

1,116,497

Across 20 sectors

Establishments

83,327

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$197,050

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	165,585	$90,785	$306,913	−$1,183,687	$2,270
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	160,255	$291,011	$1,052,222	−$438,378	$7,275
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	122,706	$316,638	$1,147,615	−$342,985	$7,916
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	94,209	$483,113	$1,767,291	+$276,691	$12,078
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	85,684	$99,330	$338,720	−$1,151,880	$2,483
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	83,148	$39,244	$115,060	−$1,375,540	$981
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	70,970	$60,351	$193,627	−$1,296,973	$1,509
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	60,198	$452,081	$1,651,779	+$161,179	$11,302
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	57,149	$71,861	$236,472	−$1,254,128	$1,797
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	52,134	$126,396	$439,469	−$1,051,131	$3,160
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	28,412	$126,664	$440,467	−$1,050,133	$3,167
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	27,154	$181,059	$642,944	−$847,656	$4,526
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	26,068	$58,982	$188,532	−$1,302,068	$1,475
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	20,636	$216,785	$775,928	−$714,672	$5,420
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	20,612	$66,464	$216,382	−$1,274,218	$1,662
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	19,401	$80,239	$267,657	−$1,222,943	$2,006
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	15,391	$113,255	$390,554	−$1,100,046	$2,831
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	3,595	$175,838	$623,509	−$867,091	$4,396
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	3,033	$52,129	$163,022	−$1,327,578	$1,303
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	157	$103,744	$355,151	−$1,135,449	$2,594

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	160,255	$291,011	$1,052,222	−$438,378	$7,275
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	85,684	$99,330	$338,720	−$1,151,880	$2,483
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	76,461	$417,501	$1,523,061	+$32,461	$10,438
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	75,278	$38,136	$110,936	−$1,379,664	$953
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	60,198	$452,081	$1,651,779	+$161,179	$11,302
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	53,495	$69,655	$228,260	−$1,262,340	$1,741
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	51,275	$103,927	$355,832	−$1,134,768	$2,598
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	50,394	$142,663	$500,021	−$990,579	$3,567
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	50,122	$34,261	$96,512	−$1,394,088	$857
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	37,208	$132,091	$460,668	−$1,029,932	$3,302
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	32,404	$418,919	$1,528,339	+$37,739	$10,473
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	20,302	$204,581	$730,500	−$760,100	$5,115
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	16,799	$43,301	$130,162	−$1,360,438	$1,083
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	15,955	$88,515	$298,463	−$1,192,137	$2,213
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	15,530	$37,425	$108,289	−$1,382,311	$936
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	13,794	$57,787	$184,083	−$1,306,517	$1,445
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	13,126	$111,338	$383,418	−$1,107,182	$2,783
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	13,092	$637,738	$2,342,858	+$852,258	$15,943
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	11,473	$209,494	$748,788	−$741,812	$5,237
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	11,314	$108,237	$371,875	−$1,118,725	$2,706
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	9,948	$243,426	$875,095	−$615,505	$6,086
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	9,578	$109,112	$375,132	−$1,115,468	$2,728
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	9,413	$42,330	$126,547	−$1,364,053	$1,058
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	9,155	$75,013	$248,204	−$1,242,396	$1,875
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	8,309	$161,130	$568,761	−$921,839	$4,028
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	7,996	$36,815	$106,018	−$1,384,582	$920
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	7,870	$49,840	$154,502	−$1,336,098	$1,246
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	7,817	$65,863	$214,145	−$1,276,455	$1,647
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	7,380	$89,102	$300,648	−$1,189,952	$2,228
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	6,736	$193,038	$687,533	−$803,067	$4,826
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	6,633	$68,676	$224,616	−$1,265,984	$1,717
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	6,197	$43,643	$131,435	−$1,359,165	$1,091
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	5,601	$107,708	$369,906	−$1,120,694	$2,693
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	5,526	$103,952	$355,925	−$1,134,675	$2,599
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	5,352	$52,548	$164,582	−$1,326,018	$1,314
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	5,011	$167,493	$592,446	−$898,154	$4,187
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	4,994	$316,923	$1,148,675	−$341,925	$7,923
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	4,807	$252,581	$909,173	−$581,427	$6,315
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	4,638	$90,616	$306,284	−$1,184,316	$2,265
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	4,538	$165,752	$585,966	−$904,634	$4,144
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	4,498	$50,280	$156,140	−$1,334,460	$1,257
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	4,396	$66,999	$218,374	−$1,272,226	$1,675
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	4,390	$71,772	$236,140	−$1,254,460	$1,794
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	4,299	$157,211	$554,173	−$936,427	$3,930
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	4,072	$116,952	$404,316	−$1,086,284	$2,924
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	3,655	$104,133	$356,599	−$1,134,001	$2,603
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	3,612	$124,607	$432,810	−$1,057,790	$3,115
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	3,595	$175,838	$623,509	−$867,091	$4,396
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	3,312	$512,404	$1,876,322	+$385,722	$12,810
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	3,203	$52,967	$166,142	−$1,324,458	$1,324
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	2,850	$67,434	$219,993	−$1,270,607	$1,686
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	2,647	$79,202	$263,797	−$1,226,803	$1,980
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	2,402	$41,023	$121,682	−$1,368,918	$1,026
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	2,212	$184,784	$656,809	−$833,791	$4,620
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	2,203	$76,581	$254,041	−$1,236,559	$1,915
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	2,171	$83,130	$278,419	−$1,212,181	$2,078
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	1,982	$77,031	$255,716	−$1,234,884	$1,926
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	1,697	$53,591	$168,464	−$1,322,136	$1,340
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	1,577	$104,930	$359,566	−$1,131,034	$2,623
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	1,545	$116,445	$402,428	−$1,088,172	$2,911
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	1,335	$60,618	$194,621	−$1,295,979	$1,515
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	1,326	$142,263	$498,532	−$992,068	$3,557
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	1,291	$110,632	$380,790	−$1,109,810	$2,766
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	1,252	$50,228	$155,946	−$1,334,654	$1,256
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	1,224	$62,950	$203,302	−$1,287,298	$1,574
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	1,087	$68,570	$224,221	−$1,266,379	$1,714
NAICS 927 Space research and technology NAICS 927	1,077	$169,641	$600,442	−$890,158	$4,241
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	902	$97,738	$332,794	−$1,157,806	$2,443
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	883	$64,051	$207,400	−$1,283,200	$1,601
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	878	$82,681	$276,747	−$1,213,853	$2,067
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	708	$116,928	$404,226	−$1,086,374	$2,923
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	544	$67,199	$219,118	−$1,271,482	$1,680
NAICS 322 Paper manufacturing NAICS 322	456	$86,953	$292,649	−$1,197,951	$2,174
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	447	$61,313	$197,208	−$1,293,392	$1,533
NAICS 533 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (except copyrighted works) NAICS 533	283	$455,846	$1,665,794	+$175,194	$11,396
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	270	$140,059	$490,328	−$1,000,272	$3,501
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	192	$60,491	$194,149	−$1,296,451	$1,512
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	178	$67,236	$219,256	−$1,271,344	$1,681
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	103	$83,761	$280,767	−$1,209,833	$2,094
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	98	$113,225	$390,442	−$1,100,158	$2,831
NAICS 486 Pipeline transportation NAICS 486	22	$125,336	$435,524	−$1,055,076	$3,133
NAICS 316 Leather and allied product manufacturing NAICS 316	10	$49,061	$151,602	−$1,338,998	$1,227

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	23,060	2,210	11%	$21.62	$44,980	$136,411	$1,125
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	16,530	(2,090)	(11%)	$21.68	$45,090	$136,821	$1,127
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	15,780	580	4%	$22.55	$46,900	$143,558	$1,173
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	18,340	(5,510)	(23%)	$22.80	$47,420	$145,494	$1,186
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	3,090	100	3%	$23.30	$48,450	$149,328	$1,211
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	12,600	(2,230)	(15%)	$25.00	$52,010	$162,579	$1,300
Tellers SOC 43-3071	1,030	(850)	(45%)	$25.64	$53,320	$167,456	$1,333
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	5,350	(270)	(5%)	$28.54	$59,370	$189,976	$1,484
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	13,470	(820)	(6%)	$29.52	$61,400	$197,532	$1,535
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	7,750	1,640	27%	$33.39	$69,440	$227,460	$1,736
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	4,420	(370)	(8%)	$33.55	$69,780	$228,725	$1,745
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	5,360	650	14%	$34.00	$70,730	$232,262	$1,768
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	4,460	60	1%	$42.28	$87,930	$296,286	$2,198
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	110	(160)	(59%)	$44.59	$92,750	$314,227	$2,319
Electricians SOC 47-2111	5,480	1,390	34%	$47.91	$99,650	$339,912	$2,491
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	7,810	340	5%	—	$102,340	$349,925	$2,559
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	3,830	1,340	54%	$54.94	$114,280	$394,369	$2,857
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	1,330	160	14%	$64.55	$134,270	$468,779	$3,357
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	2,590	(1,300)	(33%)	$69.00	$143,520	$503,211	$3,588
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	22,930	9,210	67%	$93.73	$194,950	$694,651	$4,874

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 06085 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.