The Town FilesCalifornia Polytechnic State University, California
Community in San Luis Obispo County · population 8,583 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $564,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 19.2
California Polytechnic State University is a community of 8,583 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. The median home is worth $564,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of California towns, better for cycling than 98% of California towns, better transit than 89% of California towns.
How California Polytechnic State University ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in California Polytechnic State University is worth $564,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). 60.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | California Polytechnic State University | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $564,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | — | $1,827 |
| Median household income | — | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | — | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in California Polytechnic State University
| People | California Polytechnic State University | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 0.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 1.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.5% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in California Polytechnic State University
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 44.0°F. About 22.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California Polytechnic State University since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 7, 2024 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 7, 2024.
Severe weather in San Luis Obispo County since 1996
San Luis Obispo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4769: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County had 121,958 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in California Polytechnic State University itself the ACS puts it at 15.7%.
Towns near California Polytechnic State University
- San Luis Obispo, CA2.8 mi · 47,063 people · home $935,100
- Los Osos, CA8.9 mi · 14,465 people · home $805,800
- Pismo Beach, CA10.6 mi · 8,072 people · home $1,021,300
- Morro Bay, CA12.1 mi · 10,757 people · home $918,200
- Atascadero, CA12.4 mi · 29,773 people · home $716,500
- Grover Beach, CA13.1 mi · 12,701 people · home $727,500
- Arroyo Grande, CA13.5 mi · 18,441 people · home $814,200
- Oceano, CA14.6 mi · 7,183 people · home $556,100
California Polytechnic State University questions
Is California Polytechnic State University, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, California Polytechnic State University scores better for retirees than 6% of California towns and quieter than 34%. 0.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 19.2).
How much does a house cost in California Polytechnic State University?
The median owner-occupied home in California Polytechnic State University is valued at $564,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in California Polytechnic State University?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 44.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 22.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does California Polytechnic State University get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California Polytechnic State University since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 7, 2024. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)