2025 Compare Cities Economy:
San Rafael, CA vs San Luis Obispo, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in San Luis Obispo, is 41% less than it is in San Rafael and is 12% below the National Average.
- San Rafael unemployment rate is 4.7%.
- San Luis Obispo unemployment rate is 5.5%.
 San Rafael, CASan Luis Obispo, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.5%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.1%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$61,962  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$61,862$69,021
 Family Median Income$135,862  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 San Rafael, CASan Luis Obispo, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock13.8%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.6%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock7.9%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K4.5%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.0%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.1%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock7.8%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K11.0%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.6%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K10.3%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock12.7%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 San Rafael, CASan Luis Obispo, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance20.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock11.2%6.5%
 Community, social services1.8%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.7%1.2%
 Education, library5.6%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.0%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology5.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.1%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock11.1%5.4%
 Building maintenance5.7%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.3%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support19.7%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.9%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair7.0%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock7.5%13.1%
Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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Reviews for San Luis Obispo    21 Reviews

MY FIANCEE AND I ARE LOOKING TO MOVE TO SLO FOR RETIREMENT ( NEXT MONTH ) WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS AND HOPE OUR TALENT WILL HELP WITH COST OF LIVING IN SLO!!! ANY  More

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Over 10 years ago

In almost any season of the year in San Luis Obispo, you’ll find the sun shining and the temperature hitting around 70º at some point in the day. With the temperature  More

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San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas are beautiful, great weather, beaches, farms markets, a downtown area full of some of the best bars and restaurants, wine country,  More

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