San Marcos, CA · standard
ZIP Code 92078
San Diego County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 42,906
- 993/sq mi High-density area
- $120,268
- Median income Above-median income area
- $942,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 49.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
San Marcos pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 10%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 3%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 993
- people per sq mi
- 72%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 92078 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 92078 (San Marcos, CA) rose +14.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 348.0 in 2023 to 398.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 92078 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in San Marcos, San Diego County, California, with 42,906 residents across 43.2 square miles, a density of 993 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 92078 skews affluent, with a median household income of $120,268 (18% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $54,529. The poverty rate is 7.0%, with unemployment at 4.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $942,300 (22% above the average California ZIP), while 72.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,567.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 49.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, 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 92078 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 92078
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in San Marcos, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 92078.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
220 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
190 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
147 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
139 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
136 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 92078, San Marcos, 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
42,906
Population
43.2
Area (sq mi)
993
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 92078?
38.8
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
18.5%
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?
$120,268
Median Household Income
+18% vs state ZIP avg
$54,529
Per Capita Income
7.0%
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Unemployment Rate
26.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 92078 ranks nationally
San Marcos, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$120,268 Top 10% higher than 90% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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
19,339housing units
19,339
Total Housing Units
18,522
Occupied Units
817
Vacant Units
2.79
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$942,300
Median Home Value
+22% vs state ZIP avg
$2,567
Median Rent
2000
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
+14.5%
YoY Change (2024)
399
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+299%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 92078 have increased 14.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +299% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.4% | 241 |
| 2021 | +13.1% | 272 |
| 2022 | +22.0% | 332 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 348 |
| 2024 | +14.5% | 399 |
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 1,458 business establishments in ZIP 92078, employing approximately 16,140 people with a combined annual payroll of $918,391,000.
1,458
Businesses
16,140
Employees
$918.4M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 220 | 15.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 190 | 13.0% |
| Retail trade | 147 | 10.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 139 | 9.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 136 | 9.3% |
| Construction | 122 | 8.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 113 | 7.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 87 | 6.0% |
| Manufacturing | 68 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 67 | 4.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 60 | 4.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 32 | 2.2% |
| Educational services | 31 | 2.1% |
| Information | 24 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.4% |
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 92078 vs 92069 →
ZIP 92078 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92024
Encinitas (92024)
49,121 residents
- 92084
Vista (92084)
47,654 residents
- 92069
San Marcos (92069)
46,369 residents
- 92078
San Marcos (92078)
42,906 residents
- 92009
Carlsbad (92009)
40,747 residents
- 92081
Vista (92081)
27,404 residents
- 92011
Carlsbad (92011)
22,405 residents
- 92029 19,021
Escondido (92029)
19,021 residents
- 92010 14,382
Carlsbad (92010)
14,382 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 92078 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 92078 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92067
Rancho Santa Fe (92067)
$187,054 median income
- 92009
Carlsbad (92009)
$164,182 median income
- 92011
Carlsbad (92011)
$159,235 median income
- 92024
Encinitas (92024)
$158,507 median income
- 92010
Carlsbad (92010)
$129,926 median income
- 92029
Escondido (92029)
$124,726 median income
- 92078
San Marcos (92078)
$120,268 median income
- 92081
Vista (92081)
$105,379 median income
- 92091
Rancho Santa Fe (92091)
$103,452 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 92078 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92069 | San Marcos, CA | 46,369 | 3.9 mi |
| 92009 | Carlsbad, CA | 40,747 | 3.9 mi |
| 92029 | Escondido, CA | 19,021 | 4.0 mi |
| 92081 | Vista, CA | 27,404 | 4.5 mi |
| 92067 | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | 9,535 | 6.8 mi |
| 92011 | Carlsbad, CA | 22,405 | 6.4 mi |
| 92084 | Vista, CA | 47,654 | 7.2 mi |
| 92091 | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | 1,048 | 7.6 mi |
| 92024 | Encinitas, CA | 49,121 | 6.0 mi |
| 92010 | Carlsbad, CA | 14,382 | 6.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 92078, 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 (42,906 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 92078 in?
ZIP code 92078 (San Marcos) 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 92078?
ZIP code 92078 in San Marcos, CA has a population of 42,906 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 92078?
The median household income in ZIP 92078 is $120,268, which is 58% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 92078?
The median home value in ZIP 92078 is $942,300, which is 239% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 92078?
The largest racial group in ZIP 92078 is White at 57.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 27.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 92078?
ZIP code 92078 has 1,458 business establishments employing approximately 16,140 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 92078?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 92078 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (220), Health care and social assistance (190), Retail trade (147). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 92078?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 92078 increased by 14.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 299%. 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 92078?
In ZIP code 92078, 61.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 49.2% 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 92078?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 92078 is 26.5 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 92078?
In ZIP code 92078, approximately 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 92078?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 92078 is 7.0% 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 92078's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 92078 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where San Marcos, 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.