Community Health Statistics Unit

Regional and Community Data

Demographic Profiles

In the United States, it is estimated that medical care accounts for only 10-20 percent of the modifiable contributors to healthy outcomes in a population. The other 80-90 percent are “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness,” known as social determinants of health (SDOH).¹ This means that a significant proportion of disease burden within a community is shaped by SDOH, such as distribution of income, housing status, and access to healthcare.

The Demographic Profiles are a compilation of information relating to demographic characteristics of specific populations in San Diego County, including SDOH. Each Profile contains demographic data for each HHSA Region and subregional area (SRA), including age, gender, race/ethnicity distributions, school enrollment, educational attainment, income, occupation, housing, and other SDOH. Many of these factors have been implicated at the roots of health disparities. The profiles are designed to help HHSA staff in each of the Health and Human Services Regions (Regions) and other local organizations, including Live Well San Diego recognized partners, identify, and prioritize needs within their communities.

The demographic profiles below contain the most recent demographic and economic data available by Health and Human Services (HHSA) region, city, and supervisorial district in PDF format. The Demographic Profiles are also available online as dynamic Tableau dashboards. 

The San Diego County Middle Eastern and North African Population by Ancestry and Place of Birth explores the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population by ancestry and place of birth in lieu of a direct method to estimate this population.

For machine-readable data, visit the County of San Diego's  data access portal.

Regional Data

Demographic and Health Data by Region

The location of where people are born, grow, live, work, and age greatly influences their health and well-being. For example, built and natural environments may determine the food we eat, the quality of the air we breathe, and the healthcare services that are available to us, all of which are connected to health outcomes.² Exploring health data by geography is important to identify and address the needs of diverse local communities. Most of the demographic and health data for San Diego County is provided at the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) regional and subregional area (SRA) levels. The regional and SRA boundaries are shown in the map below

Central Region

The Central Region in San Diego County is located on the San Diego Bay, and includes downtown San Diego and outlying urban communities, including North Park, College Area, Encanto, Paradise Hills, Barrio Logan, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and University Heights. The population of Central Region is very ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse.

To view demographic and health information for Central Region, select one of the data products below:

East Region

The East Region of San Diego County is the second largest geographical area in the county, and includes the communities of El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Alpine, Spring Valley and Mountain Empire. It is one of two regions that share an international border with Mexico, and the only region in the county to share a boundary with another county and country. East Region is a very diverse geographic region in the county, and includes vast valleys, arid landscapes, and mountainous terrain. The East Region is comprised of incorporated and unincorporated areas, suburban and rural communities, and Indian reservations.

To view demographic and health information for East Region, select one of the data products below:

North Central Region

The  North Central Region of San Diego County is bordered by Interstate 8 in the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Del Mar and state route 56 to the north and extends to include Scripps Ranch and San Carlos to the East. North Central Region is one of the most diverse geographical regions in the county, including miles of pristine pacific coastline, steep canyons, valleys, and mountainous terrains. The region encompasses the northern half of the City of San Diego, and in all, consists of 24 smaller communities including Linda Vista, Mission Valley, Clairemont and La Jolla. The North Central Region is comprised of coastal towns, university communities, suburban areas, and military facilities.

To view demographic and health information for North Central Region, select one of the data products below:

North Coastal Region

The North Coastal Region consists of six cities, including Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, Solana Beach and Vista. Over a dozen more communities stretch geographically from Del Mar in the south to the Orange County border in the north and east, to include Vista and Rancho Santa Fe. The US Marine Corps' largest installation, Camp Pendleton, is also located in the North Coastal Region. 

To view demographic and health information for North Coastal Region, select one of the data products below:

North Inland Region

The North Inland Region consists of four cities, including Escondido, Poway, San Marcos and the northern part of the City of San Diego, and dozens of smaller communities. The region's diversity can be attributed to this vast geographic expanse, which includes suburban areas, remote desert communities, historic mountain towns, rural homes and farms, and Indian reservations

To view demographic and health information for North Coastal Region, select one of the data products below:

South Region

The South Region of San Diego County is a highly diverse border region. Geographically, the Region covers 155 square miles of urban, suburban, and rural areas. The Region includes the cities of National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado, and three communities of the City of San Diego: Otay Mesa, Nestor and San Ysidro. San Ysidro is home to the busiest land border crossing in the world.

To view demographic and health information for South Region, select one of the data products below.

¹ Magnan, S. 2017. Social Determinants of Health 101 for Health Care: Five Plus Five.  NAM Perspectives. Discussion Paper, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC.  https://doi.org/10.31478/201710c

²  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018).  Social Determinants of Health: Know What Affects Health. https://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/index.htm