Oceanside is a city located in San Diego County California. Oceanside has a 2024 population of 168,705. Oceanside is currently declining at a rate of -0.77% annually and its population has decreased by -3.02% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 173,965 in 2020.
The average household income in Oceanside is $109,818 with a poverty rate of 9.2%. The median age in Oceanside is 37.5 years: 36.1 years for males, and 39 years for females.
Oceanside is located on the South Coast of California in San Diego County. This coastal city is about 38 miles north of San Diego and it's part of a tri-city area along with nearby cities Vista and Carlsbad.
Oceanside remains one of the most affordable San Diego beach communities although this is changing rapidly as demand grows and the city's population continues to rise. Oceanside has transformed from a small military town to a thriving scene for art and food. Oceanside is expected to continue its modest population growth over the next decade.
Oceanside was first explored by Europeans in 1769 under Father Junipero Serra who founded the Spanish Mission San Luis Rey de Francia along the San Luis Rey River. By the early 19th century, present-day Oceanside was a farming community. The region remained under Spanish rule until 1821 before it passed to Mexico and then the United States in 1848.
In 1834, secularization of California land occurred and all Mission properties were confiscated and sold. A small township called San Luis Rey west of the Mission was established in the 1870s and inhabited by English settlers. The community had a post office, hotel, and stores. By 1882, a railroad extended from Los Angeles to San Diego down the coast and through the region.
In the 1880s, Andrew Jackson Myers moved to the area from Illinois and applied for a Homestead Grant on the Oceanside property and received 160 acres. The new townsite was surveyed and lots were sold. Myers, who owned the first land and first home, is considered Oceanside's founder. Oceanside was incorporated in 1888 with a population of 1,000.
Throughout the 20th century, Oceanside was a popular beach town with a residential downtown. The population has grown steadily since the 1920s with the strongest growth in the 1940s and 1950s after the establishment of the nearby Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Oceanside was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 101,508 | 58.43% |
| Two or more races | 33,200 | 19.11% |
| Other race | 15,940 | 9.18% |
| Asian | 12,458 | 7.17% |
| Black or African American | 7,517 | 4.33% |
| Native American | 2,045 | 1.18% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,054 | 0.61% |
White
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Black or African American
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 61,636 | 2.8 | 57.9 | 42.1 |
| Married | 31,687 | 3.39 | 69.5 | 30.5 |
| Non Family | 19,791 | 1.39 | 48.1 | 51.9 |
| Female | 6,381 | 3.76 | 41.2 | 58.8 |
| Male | 3,777 | 3.63 | 40.1 | 59.9 |
3.31
Average Family Size
2.8
Average Household Size
57.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 6,417 | 5.32% |
| Associates Degree | 10,065 | 8.34% |
| Bachelors Degree | 26,092 | 21.63% |
| Graduate Degree | 14,398 | 11.94% |
| High School Graduate | 23,297 | 19.32% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 9,651 | 8% |
| Some College | 30,692 | 25.45% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 60,000 | 57,939 | 25,968 |
| Hispanic | 38,738 | 26,339 | 6,435 |
| 2+ Races | 18,196 | 13,561 | 3,973 |
| Asian | 10,139 | 9,155 | 4,207 |
| Other Race | 10,053 | 6,615 | 1,539 |
| Black | 5,607 | 5,287 | 1,713 |
| Native American | 1,557 | 1,288 | 359 |
| Islander | 634 | 503 | 215 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.56%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 43.28%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $67,392 | $84,330 | $56,437 |
| Graduate Degree | $87,021 | $102,132 | $75,924 |
| High School Graduate | $36,651 | $39,282 | $33,763 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $31,043 | $39,338 | $22,488 |
| Overall | $47,238 | $55,947 | $40,052 |
| Some College | $44,178 | $52,795 | $37,720 |
$47,238
Average Earnings
$55,947
Average Male
$40,052
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
66.35% of Oceanside residents speak only English, while 33.65% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 25.37% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 64,980 | 6,806 | 10.47% |
| White | 76,510 | 6,011 | 7.86% |
| Multiple | 32,825 | 3,130 | 9.54% |
| Other | 15,749 | 1,532 | 9.73% |
| Black | 7,480 | 1,318 | 17.62% |
| Asian | 12,441 | 860 | 6.91% |
| Islander | 1,053 | 320 | 30.39% |
| Native | 2,044 | 180 | 8.81% |
9.2%
Overall Poverty Rate
7.92%
Male Poverty Rate
10.47%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Oceanside is Islander, with 30.39% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Oceanside is Asian, with 6.91% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.18%. Among those working part-time, it was 8.92%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 16.68%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 12.66% |
| High School | 10.23% |
| Some College | 7.79% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 5.11% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 21.01% |
| Male Unemployed | 17.08% |
| Female Employed | 4.94% |
| Male Employed | 3.79% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $101,357 | $122,675 |
| Households | $86,701 | $109,818 |
| Married Families | $117,155 | $137,224 |
| Non Families | $54,739 | $73,844 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
49.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
52.2%
Male Marriage Rate
47.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
12,825
Number of Veterans
10,993
Male Veterans
1,832
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 4,597 |
| Vietnam | 3,804 |
| First Gulf War | 3,383 |
| Korea | 458 |
| World War II | 120 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 35 to 54 | 3,109 |
| 65 to 74 | 2,633 |
| 55 to 64 | 2,553 |
| 75+ | 2,415 |
| 18 to 34 | 2,115 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 8,983 | 11.12% |
| Hispanic | 2,097 | 4.63% |
| Black | 1,443 | 25.17% |
| 2+ Races | 1,160 | 5.45% |
| Other Race | 596 | 5.08% |
| Asian | 435 | 3.99% |
| Islander | 128 | 18% |
| Native American | 80 | 4.55% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
6.13%
Veteran Poverty Rate
25.52%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
67.1%
Labor Force Participation
60.7%
Employment Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
51.74%
Born in Oceanside
79.57%
Native Born
20.43%
Foreign Born
9.25%
Non Citizen
11.18%
Naturalized
79.57% of Oceanside residents were born in the United States, with 51.74% having been born in California. 9.25% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 162,130 | -1,315 | -0.8% |
| 2028 | 163,445 | -1,315 | -0.8% |
| 2027 | 164,760 | -1,315 | -0.79% |
| 2026 | 166,075 | -1,315 | -0.79% |
| 2025 | 167,390 | -1,315 | -0.78% |
| 2024 | 168,705 | -1,315 | -0.77% |
| 2023 | 170,020 | -1,388 | -0.81% |
| 2022 | 171,408 | -1,508 | -0.87% |
| 2021 | 172,916 | -1,049 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 173,965 | -1,751 | -1% |
| 2019 | 175,716 | -365 | -0.21% |
| 2018 | 176,081 | 124 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 175,957 | 34 | 0.02% |
| 2016 | 175,923 | 599 | 0.34% |
| 2015 | 175,324 | 976 | 0.56% |
| 2014 | 174,348 | 1,327 | 0.77% |
| 2013 | 173,021 | 1,636 | 0.95% |
| 2012 | 171,385 | 1,735 | 1.02% |
| 2011 | 169,650 | 1,706 | 1.02% |
| 2010 | 167,944 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 161,029 | 32,631 | 25.41% |
| 1990 | 128,398 | 51,700 | 67.41% |
| 1980 | 76,698 | 36,204 | 89.41% |
| 1970 | 40,494 | 15,523 | 62.16% |
| 1960 | 24,971 | 12,090 | 93.86% |
| 1950 | 12,881 | 8,230 | 176.95% |
| 1940 | 4,651 | 1,143 | 32.58% |
| 1930 | 3,508 | 2,347 | 202.15% |
| 1920 | 1,161 | 488 | 72.51% |
| 1910 | 673 | 343 | 103.94% |
| 1900 | 330 | -161,800 | -99.8% |