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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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COUNTYThriving

Santa Clara County, CA

Thriving overall. GDP / Output is the clearest support signal, while population needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score72out of 100
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98
65
43
71
91

Population

1,902,047

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+8.4% YoY

98

$438.5B

Output changed +8.4% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.8%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

65

3.8%

Unemployment is 3.8% for March 2026.

Vintage date unknown

State avg5.3%
U.S. avg4.3%

Population

-1.2% 5-year

43

1,902,047

Population moved -1.2% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population39,287,377
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

71

20.9%

Median rent consumes 20.9% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$2.0K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$7.0K per resident

91

$13.6B

$13.6B in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$485.6B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$13.6B

$7.0K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$7.0B
2. Department of Defense$2.3B
3. Department of Health and Human Services$949.3M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY$1.4B
2. LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP$1.1B
3. PALANTIR USG INC$589.4M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

20.9%

of median income

1BR estimate$2,343
2BR estimate$3,086
Median income$164,281
Median home value$1,490,600

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

1,902,047

Median age

38.1

Bachelor's degree+

56.5%

Poverty rate

7.1%

Labor force participation

67.4%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.7%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.0%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

March 2026

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-05-25

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

-0.2%

GDP CAGR

+5.1%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
20201,924,379
20211,932,022
20221,916,831
20231,903,297
20241,902,047
GDP (5 years)
2020$341.2B
2021$386.0B
2022$384.2B
2023$404.5B
2024$438.5B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

20241,902,047
20251,893,699 *
20261,886,360 *

R² = 78.8% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$438.5B
2025$454.8B *
2026$476.1B *

R² = 91.0% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$164,281/yr
Median rent$2,857/mo
Rent share of income20.9%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$90,447/yr
Mortgage share of income55.1%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate3.8%
State avg5.3%
U.S. avg4.3%
Labor force participation67.4%
Poverty rate7.1%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. March 2026.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$1,490,600
Median monthly rent$2,857
Price-to-rent ratio43.5x

High price-to-rent ratio — renting may be more economical than buying in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateStrong
Composite score72/100
Economic growth98/100
Labor market65/100
Population momentum43/100
Overall stability72/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Santa Clara County, California

County

Part of

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Nearby locations

Morgan Hill, CASan Jose, CASan Martin, CAAlum Rock, CAEast Foothills, CA