Population
San Luis Obispo
48,039
Normal
52,908
Median Income
San Luis Obispo
$66,711
Normal
$66,350
Home Value
San Luis Obispo
$896,500
Normal
$199,900
Rent
San Luis Obispo
$1,906
Normal
$974
Crime Rate
San Luis Obispo
4.24
Normal
3.29
Cost of Living
San Luis Obispo
174.0
Normal
107.9
Avg Temp
San Luis Obispo
N/A
Normal
N/A
Unemployment
San Luis Obispo
6.7%
Normal
4.2%
How Similar Are San Luis Obispo & Normal?
Normal is San Luis Obispo's #16 most similar city
5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
San Luis Obispo
48,039
Normal
52,908
Both cities have similar populations — San Luis Obispo at 48,039 and Normal at 52,908.
Violent Crime
San Luis Obispo
4.24
Normal
3.29
San Luis Obispo has a 22% higher violent crime than Normal.
Property Crime
San Luis Obispo
26.69
Normal
15.50
San Luis Obispo has a 42% higher property crime than Normal.
Political Leaning
San Luis Obispo
43.1%
Normal
46.8%
Both cities lean Democratic with similar vote shares — 8% difference.
Unemployment
San Luis Obispo
6.7%
Normal
4.2%
San Luis Obispo has a 37% higher unemployment than Normal.
Median Income
San Luis Obispo
$66,711
Normal
$66,350
Both cities have similar median income — just a 1% difference.
Home Values
San Luis Obispo
$896,500
Normal
$199,900
San Luis Obispo's home values is significantly higher than Normal's — 78% difference.
Education
San Luis Obispo
28.4%
Normal
26.4%
Both cities have similar education — just a 7% difference.
Demographics
San Luis Obispo
75.9%
Normal
78.8%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 4% difference.
Cost of Living
San Luis Obispo
174.0
Normal
107.9
San Luis Obispo has a 38% higher cost of living than Normal.
5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Luis Obispo and Normal share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
San Luis Obispo
0
Normal
Cost of Living & Affordability — Normal leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDNormal scores 119.7 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 297.5 in San Luis Obispo. Normal has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,302 vs $2,512 in San Luis Obispo (93% lower). Normal has a fair market rent (1br) of $999 vs $1,914 in San Luis Obispo (92% lower).
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Normal leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Luis Obispo has a median home value of $896,500 vs $199,900 in Normal (348% higher). Normal has a median rent of $974 vs $1,906 in San Luis Obispo (96% lower). Normal has a owner-occupied of 55.2% compared to 39.0% in San Luis Obispo.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — San Luis Obispo leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSNormal has a unemployment rate of 4.2% compared to 6.7% in San Luis Obispo. Normal has a poverty rate of 21.5% compared to 30.0% in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo has a work from home of 15.9% compared to 12.4% in Normal.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Normal leads
Source: FBI UCRNormal has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.15 compared to 0.82 in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo has a murder rate (per 1k) of 0.00 compared to 0.04 in Normal. Normal has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 12.33 compared to 21.96 in San Luis Obispo.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauSan Luis Obispo has a bachelor's degree or higher of 28.4% compared to 26.4% in Normal. Normal has a high school diploma or higher of 36.3% compared to 35.0% in San Luis Obispo.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSNormal has a population of 52,908, about 1.1x the size of San Luis Obispo (48,039). Normal skews younger with a median age of 25.2 vs 26.2.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
San Luis Obispo
Normal
Healthcare — San Luis Obispo leads
Source: CMS Hospital CompareSan Luis Obispo: 2.6 vs Normal: 2.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — San Luis Obispo leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Luis Obispo has a bicycle of 4.5% compared to 0.5% in Normal. San Luis Obispo has a work from home of 15.9% compared to 12.4% in Normal. Normal has a drive alone of 70.8% compared to 64.0% in San Luis Obispo.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to San Luis Obispo, CA
Compare San Luis Obispo against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.