Spring Valley, CA · standard
ZIP Code 91978
San Diego County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,896
- 510/sq mi High-density area
- $113,170
- Median income Above-median income area
- $637,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Spring Valley pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 12%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 8%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 510
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 91978 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 91978 (Spring Valley, CA) rose +3.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 326.3 in 2023 to 338.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 91978 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Spring Valley, San Diego County, California, home to 8,896 residents across 17.4 square miles, a density of 510 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 91978 skews affluent, with a median household income of $113,170 (11% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,103. The poverty rate is 10.2%, with unemployment at 9.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $637,200 (18% below the average California ZIP), and median rent is $2,327; owner occupancy is 67.9%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in San Diego County, so 91978 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 91978
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Spring Valley, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 91978.
- Construction
Construction
37 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
20 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
16 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
16 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
16 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 91978, Spring Valley, 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
8,896
Population
17.4
Area (sq mi)
510
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 91978?
42.5
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
24.8%
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?
$113,170
Median Household Income
+11% vs state ZIP avg
$44,103
Per Capita Income
10.2%
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Unemployment Rate
26.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 91978 ranks among California ZIPs
Spring Valley, 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)
$113,170 Top 32% higher than 68% 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
3,311housing units
3,311
Total Housing Units
3,236
Occupied Units
75
Vacant Units
3.09
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$637,200
Median Home Value
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$2,327
Median Rent
1978
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
+3.7%
YoY Change (2024)
338
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+238%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 91978 have increased 3.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +238% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.9% | 241 |
| 2021 | +13.3% | 273 |
| 2022 | +15.2% | 314 |
| 2023 | +3.8% | 326 |
| 2024 | +3.7% | 338 |
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 183 business establishments in ZIP 91978, employing approximately 1,678 people with a combined annual payroll of $86,290,000.
183
Businesses
1,678
Employees
$86.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 37 | 20.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20 | 10.9% |
| Manufacturing | 16 | 8.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 8.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 16 | 8.7% |
| Retail trade | 15 | 8.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 15 | 8.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 13 | 7.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 5.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 3.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 2.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 2.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 2.7% |
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 91978 vs 91977 →
ZIP 91978 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92114
San Diego (92114)
65,433 residents
- 91977
Spring Valley (91977)
58,368 residents
- 92020
El Cajon (92020)
57,767 residents
- 92019
El Cajon (92019)
42,598 residents
- 91942
La Mesa (91942)
38,069 residents
- 91941
La Mesa (91941)
31,779 residents
- 91945 25,460
Lemon Grove (91945)
25,460 residents
- 91915 24,659
Chula Vista (91915)
24,659 residents
- 91902 17,653
Bonita (91902)
17,653 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 91978 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 91978 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 91914
Chula Vista (91914)
$190,786 median income
- 91915
Chula Vista (91915)
$139,503 median income
- 91902
Bonita (91902)
$122,524 median income
- 91941
La Mesa (91941)
$115,381 median income
- 91978
Spring Valley (91978)
$113,170 median income
- 92019
El Cajon (92019)
$101,973 median income
- 91977
Spring Valley (91977)
$99,657 median income
- 92114
San Diego (92114)
$97,794 median income
- 91942
La Mesa (91942)
$92,896 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 91978 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91977 | Spring Valley, CA | 58,368 | 3.1 mi |
| 91914 | Chula Vista, CA | 15,448 | 4.1 mi |
| 91941 | La Mesa, CA | 31,779 | 3.9 mi |
| 92020 | El Cajon, CA | 57,767 | 5.2 mi |
| 91945 | Lemon Grove, CA | 25,460 | 5.4 mi |
| 91915 | Chula Vista, CA | 24,659 | 7.1 mi |
| 92019 | El Cajon, CA | 42,598 | 5.3 mi |
| 92114 | San Diego, CA | 65,433 | 6.6 mi |
| 91942 | La Mesa, CA | 38,069 | 5.9 mi |
| 91902 | Bonita, CA | 17,653 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 91978, 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 (8,896 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 91978 in?
ZIP code 91978 (Spring Valley) 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 91978?
ZIP code 91978 in Spring Valley, CA has a population of 8,896 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 91978?
The median household income in ZIP 91978 is $113,170, which is 48% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 91978?
The median home value in ZIP 91978 is $637,200, which is 129% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 91978?
The largest racial group in ZIP 91978 is White at 45.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 34.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 91978?
ZIP code 91978 has 183 business establishments employing approximately 1,678 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 91978?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 91978 are: Construction (37), Professional, scientific, and technical services (20), Manufacturing (16). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 91978?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 91978 increased by 3.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 238%. 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 91978?
In ZIP code 91978, 53.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.3% 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 91978?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 91978 is 26.7 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 91978?
In ZIP code 91978, approximately 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 91978?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 91978 is 10.2% 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 91978's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 91978 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Spring Valley, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.