All Countries
San Luis Obispo, CA
Full City Profile · California · San Luis Obispo County County
2.7
/5.0
C+
Fair
48,039
Population
3,522/sq mi density
$66,711
Median Income
$45,462 per capita
$896,500
Home Value
$1,077,043 Zillow
$1,906
Median Rent
46.5% income on rent
60°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
402
Violent Crime/100K
3,641 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$66,711 median income, 4.2% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.0 / 5.0
$896,500 home value, $1,906/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
402 violent crimes/100K (6% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
54.4% bachelor's degree or higher
San Luis Obispo enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 17.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 49.
Temperature
53°F Jan (12°C)
66°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 59.7°F |
| 11% above US avg | |
| January Average | 53°F (12°C) |
| July Average | 66°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Area | 13.6 sq mi (35.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,522/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.2662°N, 120.6684°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | San Luis Obispo County County |
| Nearest Airport | San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 6 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 49.0 |
| Rating | Good |
| Good Days % | 52.7% |
| Unhealthy Days | 10 |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0404 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 5.1 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 0.39 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 4.9 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 32.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 93.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very High |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.4 m (11 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1812 | S. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 3.4 m | 1 | 138 km |
| 1927 | S. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.8 m | — | 51 km |
| 1878 | S. CALIFORNIA | Meteorological | 1.0 m | 1 | 11 km |
| 1901 | MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 83 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 in | Wettest |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 4.9 in | |
| March | 54°F (12°C) | 4.3 in | |
| April | 55°F (13°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 57°F (14°C) | 0.4 in | |
| June | 60°F (16°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 66°F (19°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 in | |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 in | |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 56°F (14°C) | 2.4 in | |
| December | 52°F (11°C) | 3.6 in | Coldest |
San Luis Obispo has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 52°F in December to 66°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.1") and July the driest (0.0").