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Snapshot of the Bay Area

The Bay Area's vibrant economy, spectacular environmental resources, cultural amenities, educational institutions, and the rich diversity of the population make this a uniquely attractive place. The area consists of nine counties, 101 cities and is home to over seven million people. Listed below is information to give you a regional perspective on the Bay Area.

In addition, visit United Way's Data Central for information on over 40 indicators of the region's health.

Ethnic Diversity

RACE
White
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Asian
Black or African American
Two or more races
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
American Indian and Alaska Native
Some other race
Total 		3,392,204
1,315,175
1,278,515
497,205
223,837
33,640
24,733
18,451
6,783,760 		50.0%
19.4%
18.8%
7.3%
3.3%
0.5%
0.4%
0.3%
100%
(source: Census 2000)

Ecological Footprint

The Bay Area region's average Ecological Footprint is 20.9 acres per capita, while the nation's is 23.6. The Bay Area's residents have a per-capita Ecological Footprint fourteen percent lower than the rest of the United States. If everyone lived like a resident of the Bay Area, we would need more than four and a half Earths.

(source: http://www.regionalprogress.org/more_ca_bayarea_footprint.html)

Genuine Progress Indicator

The Bay Area's Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) was $16,974 per capita in 2000, $7,500 greater than the national GPI average. Marin County had the highest GPI in the Bay Area, while Alameda had the lowest. On average in the Bay Area, traditional economic income figures overestimated economic well-being by $14,000 per person.

Much of this discrepancy is due to over $100 billion in defensive expenditures, natural capital depletion costs, inequitable distribution of wealth, and social breakdown counted as positive or not at all in the traditional economic growth indicators, i.e. Gross Domestic Product, its regional corollary Gross Regional Product (GRP), and per capita income.

(source: http://www.regionalprogress.org/more_ca_bayarea.html)

Housing

The Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States due to high housing costs. According to the 2000 Census, median value of an owner-occupied unit was $353,500, and median rent was $968. In 2005, the California Association of Realtors' research revealed that only 12 percent of Bay Area residents could afford a home.

For more detailed information on our region's housing crisis, read:

Bay Area Housing Profile 2006

The Bay Area Housing Profile, a study by the Bay Area Council of the region's 101 cities and nine counties, found that jurisdictions permitted only 83 percent of the housing needed to meet assigned levels for the seven-and-half-year, January 1, 1999 - June 30, 2006, time period.

View the report: Bay Area Housing Profile

A Place to Call Home: Housing in the San Francisco Bay Area

This report by the Association of Bay Area Government outlines why our housing is so expensive, how to respond to the housing challenge, and local efforts to promote housing.

View the report: ABAG Housing Report: A Place to Call Home

Income

Median household income (dollars)
Median family income (dollars)
Per capita income (dollars) 		62,024
71,333
30,934
(source: Census 2000)

Land Use

Bay Area Square mileage:
Acres of protected land:
Miles of transit:
Miles of highway: 		7,179 square miles
1,007,200 acres
9,860 miles of transit routes
1,400 miles

Population

2006 Bay Area Population: 7,100,000
(The nine-county Bay Area includes San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma,Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties)

(source: http://www.bayareavision.org/vision/research_popgrowth.html)

Population Growth

By 2030, the Bay Area's population will at 8.7 million people. This means that over the next 25 years, the nine counties of the region will add a total of 1,655,400 new residents. This averages over 66,000 new residents per year.

Most people will live in San Francisco, the East Bay (including eastern Contra Costa County), and the South Bay (in both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties).

For detailed information on our region's growth, county by county, visit http://www.bayareavision.org/vision/research_popgrowth.html

Poverty

Individuals living in poverty in the Bay Area573,333

(source: Census 2000)

Transportation

Miles of transit:
Miles of highway:
Mean Commute Time: 		9,860 miles of transit routes
1,400 miles
29.4 minutes
(source: Census 2000)