What is it about Atascadero that makes people want to live here? Maybe it’s the fact Atascadero is ideally situated in the heart of the Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Highway 101 bisects Atascadero with 9 off ramps providing access to the city. Scenic Highway 41 meanders through Atascadero, west to the Pacific Ocean and east through vineyards and beautiful horse and cattle ranches to the Sierra Mountains.

In less than 30 minutes you can be having lunch on the waterfront in Morro Bay or visiting the world famous Hearst Castle. If you enjoy wine tasting, Atascadero is surrounded by over two hundred world class wineries. If it’s kayaking, swimming, water skiing, or fishing there’s three beautiful stream fed lakes in the area.

Atascadero’s unique lifestyle and rural atmosphere offers a vast array of single family homes from new construction to the beautiful historical dwellings with the charm of another time. Rentals are abundant throughout the area, and your choice of homes near the city center to small ranchettes a little further out, Atascadero offers something for every taste and pocketbook.

City Facts & Figures

Location

Atascadero was founded as California’s first planned community in 1913 and incorporated in 1979. It is located 18 miles inland from the Pacific Coast midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 101. The elevation at City Hall is 850 feet.

View Atascadero in Google Maps

Population & Demographics

Economic Growth and Trends
  • Retail Sales Tax – 7.25%
  • Population in the County – 269,637
  • Population in City Limits – 28,310
  • Total Taxable Retail Sales in Millions, County – 2,974.9
  • Total Taxable Retail Sales in Millions, City – 328.5
  • Total Number of Dwellings, City – 10,228
  • Total School Enrollment, Atascadero Unified School District – 5,036
Gender & Age
  • Male – 51.5%
  • Female – 48.5%
  • Median Age (years) – 38.2
Ethnicity
  • Caucasian – 24,457
  • African American – 585
  • Hispanic/Latino – 3,429
  • Native American – 295
  • Asian – 685
  • Other – 2,231

Total may be greater than 100% as ‘Other’ could be counted in other races

Housing Tenure
  • Average Household Size – 2.62
  • Housing Units within the City – 11,505
    • Occupied – 10,737
    • Vacant – 768

Climate

Prevailing Winds
  • Direction – Northwest
  • Avg. Hourly Speed – 15 m.p.h.
Rainfall & Temperature
  • Sunny Days – 290
  • Rainy Days – 30
  • Rainfall – 23″
  • Avg. High, July – 87°
  • Avg. Low, January – 35°
  • Comfort Index (higher = better) – 87

Statistics from bestplaces.net

Top Employers in & around Atascadero

Atascadero State Hospital
2,100 employees

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
1,723 employees
406 Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
(805) 546-5290

Twin Cities Community Hospital
1,250 employees

Atascadero Unified School District
604 employees

Albertsons (Atascadero)
200 employees

Vons Market (Atascadero)
90 employees

Rabobank
844 employees
6950 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
(805) 466-2325

Home Depot
255 employees

Food 4 Less
197 employees

K-Mart
87 employees
466-7700

Kennedy Club Fitness
275 employees

City of Atascadero
116 employees
461-5000

Need more info?

Interested in finding out more about living in, moving to, or just visiting Atascadero? Contact the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce at info@atascaderochamber.org, or by phone at 805-466-2044. You can also visit the City of Atascadero online at https://www.atascadero.org, or the Atascadero Visitor Information Center at https://www.visitatascadero.com.