Descanso, CA · standard
ZIP Code 91916
San Diego County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 1,622
- 16/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $103,438
- Median income Above-median income area
- $676,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 18.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Descanso pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 17%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 16
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 91916 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 91916 (Descanso, CA) rose +1.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 263.6 in 2023 to 268.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 91916 covers 103.3 square miles in Descanso, San Diego County, California (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 1,622 residents on file, a density of 16 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 91916 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $103,438 (2% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $48,634. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 3.8% and unemployment is 1.5%. Median home value is $676,800 (12% below the average California ZIP) and median rent is $3,000; 78.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.3, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in San Diego County, so 91916 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 91916
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Descanso, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 91916.
- Construction
Construction
9 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
5 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
4 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
4 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
4 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 91916, Descanso, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
1,622
Population
103.3
Area (sq mi)
16
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 91916?
43.3
Median Age
44.9%
Male
55.1%
Female
9.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$103,438
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$48,634
Per Capita Income
3.8%
Poverty Rate
1.5%
Unemployment Rate
27.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 91916 ranks among California ZIPs
Descanso, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$103,438 Top 41% higher than 59% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
672housing units
672
Total Housing Units
605
Occupied Units
67
Vacant Units
2.81
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$676,800
Median Home Value
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$3,000
Median Rent
1974
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.9%
YoY Change (2024)
269
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+169%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 91916 have increased 1.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +169% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.6% | 192 |
| 2021 | +13.5% | 218 |
| 2022 | +13.8% | 248 |
| 2023 | +6.4% | 264 |
| 2024 | +1.9% | 269 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 34 business establishments in ZIP 91916, employing approximately 99 people with a combined annual payroll of $8,642,000.
34
Businesses
99
Employees
$8.6M
Annual Payroll
5
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 9 | 26.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 5 | 14.7% |
| Retail trade | 4 | 11.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 11.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 4 | 11.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 91916 vs 91931 →
ZIP 91916 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 91901
Alpine (91901)
17,403 residents
- 92036 3,440
Julian (92036)
3,440 residents
- 91962 1,646
Pine Valley (91962)
1,646 residents
- 91916 1,622
Descanso (91916)
1,622 residents
- 91931 592
Guatay (91931)
592 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 91916 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 91916 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 91962
Pine Valley (91962)
$143,094 median income
- 91901
Alpine (91901)
$114,167 median income
- 91916
Descanso (91916)
$103,438 median income
- 92036
Julian (92036)
$73,750 median income
- 91931
Guatay (91931)
$63,750 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 91916 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 91916, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (1,622 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in San Diego County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 91916 in?
ZIP code 91916 (Descanso) is located in San Diego County, California. San Diego County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/san-diego-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 91916?
ZIP code 91916 in Descanso, CA has a population of 1,622 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 91916?
The median household income in ZIP 91916 is $103,438, which is 36% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 91916?
The median home value in ZIP 91916 is $676,800, which is 143% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 91916?
The largest racial group in ZIP 91916 is White at 78.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 18.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 91916?
ZIP code 91916 has 34 business establishments employing approximately 99 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 91916?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 91916 are: Construction (9), Professional, scientific, and technical services (5), Retail trade (4). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 91916?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 91916 increased by 1.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 169%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 91916?
In ZIP code 91916, 56.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 91916?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 91916 is 27.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 91916?
In ZIP code 91916, approximately 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 91916?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 91916 is 3.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 91916's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 91916 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Descanso, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.