San Diego County Cities: Population and Local Government Links
San Diego County has 18 incorporated cities, each with its own municipal government. Use the table below to compare their populations and open their official websites for city departments, permits, public meetings and local service requests.
If you are trying to find the office responsible for a particular property or street, check the address's jurisdiction first. A city name in a mailing address does not necessarily mean the property is inside that city's boundaries.
Independent guide. This website is not operated by the County or any city government. Population estimates are sourced from the California Department of Finance's E-1 release identified below. Use the linked government websites for current service information.
San Diego County Cities by Population
The cities are listed from largest to smallest using population estimates for January 1, 2026. These provisional estimates were released in May 2026; they are not 2020 Census counts. Select a city name to visit its official government website.
| City | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| San Diego | 1,419,531 |
| Chula Vista | 282,999 |
| Oceanside | 174,027 |
| Escondido | 152,196 |
| Carlsbad | 115,867 |
| El Cajon | 104,932 |
| Vista | 101,365 |
| San Marcos | 97,554 |
| Encinitas | 62,193 |
| La Mesa | 61,707 |
| Santee | 59,812 |
| National City | 58,701 |
| Poway | 50,263 |
| Lemon Grove | 28,233 |
| Imperial Beach | 26,066 |
| Coronado | 23,796 |
| Solana Beach | 12,941 |
| Del Mar | 3,917 |
Why the city table does not show the whole county
The 18 cities had a combined estimated population of 2,836,100. The same dataset lists 508,222 residents in the unincorporated area, bringing the county total to 3,344,322. Those residents are part of San Diego County but are not included in any of the city totals above.
Incorporated Cities and Unincorporated Communities
An incorporated city has a municipal government, including a mayor and city council. An unincorporated community lies outside incorporated city boundaries and does not have a separate city government.
The County provides many local services in unincorporated areas and regional services for residents across the county. Some incorporated cities also contract for services. The County's overview of government responsibilities explains these overlapping roles.
The City of San Diego and the County of San Diego are separate governments. County services and records may still apply to residents who live within city limits.
How to Check an Address's Jurisdiction
For zoning or building questions, the County's Planning & Development Services provides jurisdiction lookup instructions with a link to the regional map:
- Open the Look Up Tool linked from the County page.
- In the map's Layers window, enable Jurisdictions.
- Enter the full street address in the search bar.
- Use the map legend to identify the jurisdiction containing the property.
If the map places the property inside an incorporated city, start with that city's planning or building department. For a property in an unincorporated area, start with County Planning & Development Services. If the boundary or map result is unclear, provide the address and Assessor Parcel Number (APN) to the relevant planning office for confirmation.
This map helps identify jurisdiction for property research. It does not establish every service provider. Police, fire, animal services, utilities and roads can have different responsibility or service boundaries. For general postal and community information, see our ZIP Code reference; ZIP Codes alone do not determine municipal jurisdiction.
Where to Start for Common Requests
| What you need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| City council agendas, municipal ordinances or city records | Use the city's official website and City Clerk section. |
| A road maintenance request | Check the city or County public works service for the road's location. Confirm who maintains the road before filing a request. |
| Property assessment or parcel information | San Diego County Assessor guide |
| A property tax bill or payment | Property tax guide and Treasurer-Tax Collector guide |
| A birth certificate for a birth in the county | Birth certificate guide |
| Animal services | Check the provider serving the address; our Animal Services guide explains the County service. |
Population Data and Government Sources
Population source: California Department of Finance, E-1 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State — January 1, 2025 and 2026, released May 2026. This table uses the January 1, 2026 population column. The figures are provisional and may be revised in a later release.
These estimates use 2020 Census benchmarks together with later demographic and housing data. Population totals describe residents within the relevant jurisdiction, not everyone using that city's name in a mailing address.
Government references: County directory of city websites, County service overview and County jurisdiction lookup instructions.