SLO ranks among the top 10 fastest growing counties in California, latest data show

John Lynch
·2 min read

San Luis Obispo County welcomed more new neighbors than most other California counties between 2021 and 2022, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The county’s population grew by approximately 2,764 people, or, 0.97%, the Census data showed, putting it among the top 10 counties in California that experienced the biggest population growth.

That bump was based on annual population estimates made by the Census, which estimated SLO County’s population grew from 279,298 to 282,013 between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022.

While no California county matched the population growth of Yolo County — which experienced a 4.26% population spike — SLO County was among three Central Coast counties that saw significant population increases over that time frame.

Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz counties also landed on the top 10 list.

That was a significant reversal from the previous year, when Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz ranked among the California counties that suffered the biggest population losses.

SLO County experienced a similar rebound in 2022. Between April 1, 2020, when the Census was completed, and July 1, 2021, the county lost 1.1% of its population.

Due to that drop in 2021, the gains made by SLO County between July 2021 and July 2022 still amounted to a net population loss of 0.2% between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2022.

According to the Census Bureau, these 10 California counties saw the most population growth between July 2021 and July 2022:

  • Yolo County: 4.26% increase

  • Merced County: 1.95%

  • Santa Cruz County: 1.49%

  • Santa Barbara County: 1.46%

  • San Benito County: 1.36%

  • Yuba County: 1.31%

  • Placer County: 1.20%

  • San Luis Obispo County: 0.97%

  • Madera County: 0.85%

  • Riverside County: 0.84%

Elsewhere, however, some counties in California experienced population losses as high as 6% between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022.

Lassen County was the top population loser in the Golden State during that time period.

The following counties saw the largest rates of population decline between July 2021 and July 2022.

  • Lassen County: 6% decrease

  • Alpine County: 3.64%

  • Plumas County: 2.95%

  • Sierra County: 2.36%

  • Mono County: 2.13%

  • Trinity County: 1.74%

  • Del Norte County: 1.71%

  • Napa County: 1.40%

  • Mendocino County: 1.34%

  • San Mateo County: 1.34%

Statewide, California’s downward population trend slowed down between 2020 and 2022, according to new Census data projections.

Between 2020 and 2021, the state population shrunk by 0.91%, but between 2021 and 2022, it fell by just 0.29%.