If you’ve ever sat on the sand at T-Street watching the sets roll in, you know San Clemente doesn’t feel like a big city. It feels like a village. Specifically, the "Spanish Village by the Sea." But if you look at the raw numbers, there’s a weird paradox happening. People are fighting tooth and nail to move here, yet the actual population of San Clemente CA is technically shrinking.
Wait, what?
It sounds wrong. Every time you try to find a parking spot near Del Mar or wait for a table at South of Nick’s, it feels more crowded than ever. But the data tells a more nuanced story about who is living here, who is leaving, and why this Orange County gem is hitting a "demographic ceiling."
The Numbers Nobody is Talking About
Let’s get the spreadsheet stuff out of the way first. As of early 2026, the population of San Clemente CA sits at approximately 62,627 residents.
If you compare that to the 2020 Census, which recorded 64,217 people, you’ll notice a dip. We are looking at a decline of about 2.5% over the last few years. While much of California saw people fleeing for Boise or Austin during the "big shift" of the early 2020s, San Clemente’s dip isn't just about people leaving the state.
It’s about space. Honestly, San Clemente is basically built out. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean, Camp Pendleton to the south, and the Cleveland National Forest foothills, there isn't much room left to grow. When you can’t build out, and the locals fight "building up" (density) with every fiber of their being, the population number naturally flattens or dips as household sizes shrink.
Why the "Vibe" Feels More Crowded
You’ve probably noticed the traffic on the I-5 or the lack of elbow room at the Pier. If the population is down, why does it feel like there are more people?
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- The Remote Work Revolution: A huge chunk of the 30,500+ working residents in town now work from home or in hybrid roles. People who used to be in an office in Irvine or San Diego all day are now out grabbing coffee at 10:00 AM.
- Tourism Rebound: San Clemente has become a premier "staycation" spot for people in Riverside and Los Angeles.
- Empty Nesters: This is a big one. We’re seeing a trend where parents stay in their large 4-bedroom Talega homes after the kids go to college. Same house, fewer people.
Who Actually Lives Here? (Demographics and Reality)
San Clemente has a reputation for being an enclave for "the wealthy and the retired." While there’s some truth to that—the median age is hovering around 44.6 years old—it’s a lot more diverse than the "Real Housewives" stereotypes suggest.
The Age Gap
About 20.5% of the population is over the age of 65. That’s a significant block. These are the folks who bought in the 70s and 80s when you could get a beach cottage for the price of a mid-sized SUV today. On the flip side, you have a massive surf-culture youth demographic. Roughly 21.7% of residents are under 18.
It creates this unique social dynamic: you have retired CEOs sharing the lineup at San Onofre with 14-year-old groms who are homeschooling so they can surf six hours a day.
Income and the Cost of Staying
Let's talk money, because you sort of have to if you want to understand the population of San Clemente CA. The median household income is roughly $134,735. That sounds like a lot, but when the median home value is sitting north of $1.2 million, that income barely gets you through the door.
This has led to a "missing middle" in the population. You see plenty of high earners and plenty of people who bought decades ago, but the 25-to-34-year-old demographic is struggling to gain a foothold. This age group makes up only a small slice of the pie because, frankly, renting a one-bedroom apartment here for $2,800 a month makes it hard to save for a down payment.
Ethnic Makeup and the "Spanish Village" Legacy
Ole Hanson, the city’s founder, wanted a "Spanish Village by the Sea." He even mandated white stucco and red tile roofs. Today, that Mediterranean influence is more than just architectural.
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The racial breakdown of the city is predominantly White (roughly 71-75%), but the Hispanic and Latino community is a vital part of the city's fabric, making up about 17.8% of the population. You see this influence everywhere, from the world-class taco shops on El Camino Real to the local soccer leagues. The Asian community also makes up a growing portion of the city at around 4.6%.
Misconceptions About Growth
One of the biggest myths is that San Clemente is being "overrun" by new developments. If you look at the population of San Clemente CA trends from 2000 to today, the growth has actually been incredibly slow compared to neighboring cities like Irvine or Lake Forest.
Between 2010 and 2020, the city grew by only 1%. Compare that to the U.S. average of 7% in the same period. The "slow growth" movement is arguably the most powerful political force in town. Residents treat the "small-town feel" like a sacred relic. Every time a new multi-family housing project is proposed near the North Beach area, the community response is... let's just say, spirited.
The Camp Pendleton Factor
We can't talk about San Clemente without mentioning our neighbors to the south. Camp Pendleton isn't just a military base; it’s a massive geographic buffer. It prevents San Clemente from merging into the urban sprawl of San Diego County.
This isolation is why the population remains somewhat "trapped" in a good way. It keeps the city from becoming a pass-through town. You don't just "end up" in San Clemente; you usually have to be going there on purpose.
What This Means for Your Future in Town
If you’re looking to move here or you’re a local trying to make sense of the changes, here’s the reality of the population of San Clemente CA:
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- Real Estate is a Game of Musical Chairs: Since the population isn't growing through new construction, people only get "in" when someone else leaves. This keeps property values artificially high.
- School Enrollment is Shifting: With a slightly aging population and fewer young families able to afford homes, the Capistrano Unified School District has had to get creative. Some schools feel the pinch of lower enrollment, while others in newer areas like Talega remain packed.
- The "Luxury" Shift: As the population becomes wealthier (average household income is actually closer to $190,000 when you factor in the high-end earners), the services in town are changing. More high-end boutiques, fewer "mom and pop" hardware stores.
Actionable Steps for Navigating San Clemente
Understanding the demographics is one thing, but living it is another. If you're looking to engage with this community, here is what you should actually do:
Monitor the Housing Element: Every few years, the city has to update its "Housing Element" to meet state mandates. This is where the battle for the future population happens. If you care about density or affordability, this is the meeting you attend at City Hall.
Support the Local "Missing Middle": Since young professionals are the ones being priced out of the population of San Clemente CA, supporting local small businesses helps keep the "village" economy alive rather than just a bedroom community for commuters.
Understand the Micro-Neighborhoods: The "population" isn't a monolith. The vibe in Southwest SC (where the lots are big and the surfers live) is completely different from Talega (newer, inland, family-centric) or North Beach (re-emerging, more renters, historic).
Get Involved in Conservation: If you want to understand why the population stays steady, look at groups like the San Clemente Watershed Task Force or local beach conservation groups. The residents' obsession with the environment is the primary reason they fight expansion.
The population of San Clemente CA might be shrinking on paper, but the city’s influence and desirability have never been higher. It is a place caught between its historic "village" roots and the crushing demand of the California coast. Whether the numbers go up or down, the soul of the city remains tied to the tides—and that’s something a census can’t quite capture.
To stay updated on local shifts, check the official City of San Clemente website for the latest planning commission reports and annual community updates.