PlainZIP

Vista, CA · standard

ZIP Code 92081

San Diego County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

27,404
1,192/sq mi
$105,379
Median income
$838,600
Median home value
42.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Vista pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 16%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 4%
home value, US ZIPs
1,192
people per sq mi
55%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 92081 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 92081 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Vista, San Diego County, California, with 27,404 residents across 23.0 square miles, a density of 1,192 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.

ZIP 92081 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $105,379 (4% above the California average), while per-capita income is $50,711. 8.8% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 5.9%. On housing, the median home value is $838,600 (9% above the state average) with median rent at $2,454 per month, and 54.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 42.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.5, and the average commute is 25 minutes. To put 92081 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in San Diego County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 92081

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Vista, CA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 92081.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 92081, Vista, 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

27,404

Population

23.0

Area (sq mi)

1,192

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 92081?

38.5

Median Age

51.9%

Male

48.1%

Female

17.0%

Foreign-Born

White 57.1%
African American 4.2%
Asian 8.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.6%
Two or More Ethnicities 24.7%
Hispanic or Latino 28.8%

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?

$105,379

Median Household Income

+4% vs state

$50,711

Per Capita Income

8.8%

Poverty Rate

5.9%

Unemployment Rate

25.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 92081 ranks nationally

Vista, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$105,379 Top 16% higher than 84% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 59.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 42.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

11,267

Total Housing Units

10,939

Occupied Units

328

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 54.5%
Renter 45.5%

$838,600

Median Home Value

+9% vs state

$2,454

Median Rent

1988

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

+4.6%

YoY Change (2024)

366

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+266%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 92081 have increased 4.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +266% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.7% 234
2021 +16.2% 272
2022 +21.4% 330
2023 +6.1% 350
2024 +4.6% 366

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 1,174 business establishments in ZIP 92081, employing approximately 22,411 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,562,773,000.

1,174

Businesses

22,411

Employees

$1.6B

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 161 13.7%
Manufacturing 160 13.6%
Wholesale trade 156 13.3%
Construction 127 10.8%
Health care and social assistance 111 9.4%
Retail trade 104 8.9%
Accommodation and food services 73 6.2%
Other services (except public administration) 70 6.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 60 5.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 41 3.5%
Transportation and warehousing 32 2.7%
Finance and insurance 24 2.0%
Information 21 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 19 1.6%
Educational services 10 0.8%

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 92081 vs 92083 →

ZIP 92081 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 92081 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 92081 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 92081 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
92083 Vista, CA 36,975 2.4 mi
92010 Carlsbad, CA 14,382 2.6 mi
92009 Carlsbad, CA 40,747 4.8 mi
92056 Oceanside, CA 51,835 3.8 mi
92069 San Marcos, CA 46,369 4.7 mi
92084 Vista, CA 47,654 4.5 mi
92008 Carlsbad, CA 27,649 4.7 mi
92078 San Marcos, CA 42,906 4.5 mi
92011 Carlsbad, CA 22,405 5.0 mi
92024 Encinitas, CA 49,121 7.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in San Diego County

91911 standard
Chula Vista, CA
Pop: 82,999
92154 standard
San Diego, CA
Pop: 79,708
91910 standard
Chula Vista, CA
Pop: 75,802
92126 standard
San Diego, CA
Pop: 73,343
92105 standard
San Diego, CA
Pop: 69,813
92114 standard
San Diego, CA
Pop: 65,433

Related Areas

San Diego County Vista, CA California

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 92081 in? ▼
ZIP code 92081 (Vista) 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 92081? ▼
ZIP code 92081 in Vista, CA has a population of 27,404 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 92081? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 92081 is $105,379, which is 38% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 92081? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 92081 is $838,600, which is 201% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 92081? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 92081 is White at 57.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 28.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 92081? ▼
ZIP code 92081 has 1,174 business establishments employing approximately 22,411 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 92081? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 92081 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (161), Manufacturing (160), Wholesale trade (156). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 92081? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 92081 increased by 4.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 266%. 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 92081? ▼
In ZIP code 92081, 59.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.3% 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 92081? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 92081 is 25.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 92081? ▼
In ZIP code 92081, approximately 54.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 45.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 92081? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 92081 is 8.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.