Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety61#6,082/15,637
Economy98#304/15,631
Housing22#11,732/14,977
Health94#985/15,609
Healthcare90#1,634/15,650
Environment3#14,978/15,453
Education49#8,027/15,649
Infrastructure94#897/15,650
Community55#7,077/15,651
Leisure & amenities81#3,025/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Del Mar, California ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “San Diego County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Physical inactivity · low10.5%
100/100California 23.5%United States 26.5%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Food insecurity · low5.0%
100/100California 18.5%United States 15.6%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionModel-based estimate
Bachelor's degree or higher · high86.4%
100/100California 37.1%United States 35.7%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Adult smoking · low5.6%
99/100California 12.6%United States 16.1%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Lack of reliable transportation · low4.0%
99/100California 9.6%United States 8.3%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionModel-based estimate
Adult obesity · low20.8%
99/100California 30.4%United States 38.2%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate

Weaknesses

Home price to income ratio · high10.0×
1/100California 7.4×United States 4.1×2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B25077
Students per teacher · high22.5×
2/100California 21.7×United States 15.2×2024National Center for Education StatisticsSan Diego County value
Median Air Quality Index · high67
4/100California 602025U.S. Environmental Protection AgencySan Diego County value
Days with unhealthy air · high9.0%
5/100California 12.4%2025U.S. Environmental Protection AgencySan Diego County value
High school diploma or higher · low99.1%
8/100California 84.7%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Natural hazard risk · high90.5
9/100California 87.32025Federal Emergency Management AgencySan Diego County value

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationFalling
4,331 (2015-2019) → 3,903 (2020-2024)
−9.9%5 yearsCensus table B01003US 328,329,953 → 340,003,797
New homes permittedImproving
1.5 /1k (2021) → 4.9 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
+225%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
Median household incomeImproving
$129,063 (2015-2019) → $199,152 (2020-2024)
+54%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
75.7% (2015-2019) → 86.4% (2020-2024)
+11 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%
Home price to income ratioImproving
15.5× (2015-2019) → 10.0× (2020-2024)
−35%5 yearsCensus table B25077US 3.5× → 4.1×
Rent as share of incomeImproving
26.9% (2015-2019) → 23.6% (2020-2024)
−3.3 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Del Mar, California improved on 2 of 11 measures with a comparison and declined on 0. 9 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved2

Price / income−5.5×15.5× → 10.0×
Household income+54%$129,063 → $199,152

Declined0

No measure declined by more than its margin of error.

All 11 measures

Change of every measure of Del Mar, California between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	24.5 min2015-2019	21.9 min2020-2024	−2.6 min	Within the margin of error	76%
Bachelor's degree or higher	75.7%2015-2019	86.4%2020-2024	+11 points	Within the margin of error	91%
Broadband subscriptions	95.6%2015-2019	98.4%2020-2024	+2.8 points	Within the margin of error	19%
Child poverty rate	0.0%2015-2019	0.0%2020-2024	0 points	Within the margin of error	42%
Effective property tax rate	0.41%2015-2019	0.48%2020-2024	+0.1 points	Within the margin of error	9%
High school diploma or higher	100.0%2015-2019	99.1%2020-2024	−0.9 points	Within the margin of error	23%
Home price to income ratio	15.5×2015-2019	10.0×2020-2024	−5.5×	Improved	100%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.5282015-2019	0.4582020-2024	−0.070	Within the margin of error	90%
Median household income	$129,0632015-2019	$199,1522020-2024	+54%	Improved	88%
Rent as share of income	26.9%2015-2019	23.6%2020-2024	−3.3 points	Within the margin of error	75%
Rent-burdened households	46.1%2015-2019	45.5%2020-2024	−0.6 points	Within the margin of error	59%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Del Mar, California five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Del Mar, California in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Del Mar, California itself moved +5.9 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

3,903 residents (±25)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: 60–69 women (+6.8 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

3,903 residents (±25)

Del Mar, California
California share

White85%3,337
Black2.2%†84
Hispanic or Latino4.0%†155
Asian2.8%†108
American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%0
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races5.6%†219

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

3,268 residents (±170)

Del Mar, California
California share

No high school diploma0.9%†31
High school or GED5.0%†165
Some college7.0%†228
Associate degree0.6%†20
Bachelor's degree40%1,291
Graduate degree47%1,533

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Associate degree (−7.9 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

1,855 households (±112)

Del Mar, California
California share

Under $25k5.2%†97
$25k–50k7.9%†147
$50k–75k5.4%†101
$75k–100k3.2%†60
$100k–150k15%†276
$150k–200k15%†275
$200k or more48%899

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $200k or more (+16.8 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

1,855 households (±112)

Del Mar, California
California share

Own53%987
Rent47%868

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

838 households (±217)

Del Mar, California
California share

Under $7500.0%0
$750–1,0000.0%0
$1,000–1,5003.2%†27

Home values

987 homes (±174)

Del Mar, California
California share

Under $150k0.0%0
$150k–250k0.0%0
$250k–400k1.4%†14

Age of homes

2,550 homes (±211)

Del Mar, California
California share

2010 or later6.8%†174
2000–20092.9%†74
1980–199915%†380

Size of homes

2,550 homes (±211)

Del Mar, California
California share

Studio5.3%†134
1 bedroom11%†273
2 bedrooms39%987

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

2,158 workers (±275)

Del Mar, California
California share

Drive alone47%1,016
Carpool2.2%†47
Public transit0.4%†8
Walk0.2%†5
Bike0.0%0
Work from home49%†1,057
Other1.2%†25

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Work from home (+25.4 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

1,101 workers (±264)

Del Mar, California
California share

Under 15 min24%†269
15–29 min45%†495
30–44 min24%†

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of San Diego County, the county holding most of Del Mar's residents.

San Diego County has 93,407 employer establishments, 285 for every 10,000 residents (1.15× the US rate of 248; 1.08× California's), with 1,391,721 paid employees at an average annual pay of $76,323. The Census Bureau also counts 309,797 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 93,407; 309,797 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 285; US 248 · California 263
Paid employees: 1,391,721
Average annual pay: $76,323; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of San Diego County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	8,760	26.7	1.28×More than typical	93,307	$78,478	14,172
Restaurants and other eating places	6,900	21	1.15×About typical	133,685	$28,826	1,233
Lessors of real estate	6,696	20.4	1.66×More than typical	25,445	$77,999	30,253
Specialty trade contractors	5,209	15.9	1.03×About typical	61,015	$73,467	12,039
Management, scientific and technical consulting	4,588	14	2.08×More than typical	22,342	$104,103	15,799
Limited-service restaurants	3,086	9.4	1.17×About typical	55,315	$24,940	521
Real estate agents and brokers	2,942	9	1.84×More than typical	5,502	$81,009	8,179
Construction of buildings	2,847	8.7	1.15×About typical	23,326	$93,648	7,466
Offices of physicians	2,821	8.6	1.33×More than typical	21,181	$123,005	2,963
Legal services	2,659	8.1	1.51×More than typical	16,019	$125,747	3,989
Full-service restaurants	2,650	8.1	1.05×About typical	63,776	$33,217	412
Offices of other health practitioners	2,532	7.7	1.27×More than typical	12,989	$47,030	6,974

Rank places for an industry Open San Diego County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 3,279,736 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $34.7K of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Del Mar, California: $8.88 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $34.7K; +26% vs FY2025
Per resident: $8.88; US $1,994
Sole-source: 0.0%; US 30%
Single offer: 0.0%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Department of the Air Force$32.6K94%
Department of the Navy$2,0415.9%

Top recipients

SEABORNE PURSUITS LLC$32.6K94%
COMPRESSED AIR SPECIALTIES, INC.$2,0415.9%

Spending by fiscal year

136.3KFY2017
80.2KFY2018
528.4KFY2019
194.2KFY2020
503.7KFY2021
363.8KFY2022
386.1KFY2023
415.9K

Top industries (NAICS)

Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing · 5324$32.6K94%
Other general purpose machinery manufacturing · 3339$2,0415.9%

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Del Mar, California, so they do not add up across cities.

Del Mar, California's figures are part of those of San Diego County, CA ($13B in FY2026), never added to them: 0.0% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Del Mar is mostly in San Diego County.

See federal money in San Diego County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Del Mar, California is split between congressional districts: each representative is shown with the share of its residents in their district (current boundaries).

House

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

San Diego County69100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA73

Other cities and towns in San Diego County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/0618506

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends