Last Updated on: 1st August 2023, 01:05 pm
Atascadero is a historic city nestled in San Luis Obispo County, California, 18 miles inland from the ocean. Known for its abundance of scenic views, proximity to beaches, and historic sites like the Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero is a great place to live and offers a rich trove of opportunities. Atascadero, Spanish for “Mire,” is a subtle nod to the scenic city’s close proximity to water. Originally, Atascadero was home to the Chumash and Salinan Native Americans who were the original settlers. In 1913, Atascadero as it is now known was founded by Edward Gardner Lewis, a magazine publisher from the East. Lewis traveled to Atascadero to create a utopian planned colony, mesmerized by the scenery and deeming it an ideal place where he could create an ideal type of lifestyle and community for residents. To further enhance Atascadero’s natural beauty, Lewis enlisted the help of experts in agriculture, engineering, and city planning resulting in a “model community.” Over the years, earthquakes have damaged some of the original architecture and the city has evolved in many ways, but living in Atascadero has only grown more appealing!
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Table of Contents
Where is Atascadero, CA?
Atascadero is in San Luis Obispo County, where it is actually the third largest city in the county. Atascadero is part of the San Luis Obispo- Paso Robles statistical area, and is conveniently located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Highway 101. Atascadero neighbors San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Morro Bay is just a short 17.4 mile drive away!
Atascadero, CA Population & Demographics
The population of Atascadero is 30,444 distributed over 26.1 square miles with a population density of 1,167.7 people per square mile. Atascadero’s population has grown 7.53% since 2010 and 13.5% of the population consists of foreign born persons. The median age is 38.6 and the sex ratio of Atascedero is evenly split with 50% men and 50% women.
Notable people from Atascadero include racing driver David Mayhew, professional baseball umpire Bob Engel, singer and songwriter Brenda Hollaway, and mixed martial artist Jared Hamman.
The racial demographics of Atascadero’s population is relatively homogeneous with 84.9% White (74.3% non-Hispanic) and the next highest population being Hispanic at 18.3%.
The median household income in Atascadero is $79,620 which is about the same as the median income for the state of California which is $78,672. 88.5% of Atascadero’s population consists of high school graduates or higher and 32.9% of the population have a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
Is Atascadero, CA safe? You can put your mind at ease because Atascadero is an incredibly safe place to be! Atascadero’s overall crime rate is 34.2% lower than the rest of the state of California with 1,825 crimes annually per 100,000 people. The property crime rate is 23.6% lower than the national average while the violent crime rate is 41.9% lower than the rest of the nation. The city of Atascadero is served by the Atascadero Police Department which consists of 28 officially sworn in officers.
Cost of Living in Atascadero, CA
In general, California is an expensive place to live especially in more scenic areas close to the water. To put things in perspective, the cost of living in San Luis Obispo is 63.9% higher than the national average and the cost of living index for Atascadero is 40.3% higher than the national average. The median home price in Atascadero is $805,000 with an average sale price per square foot of $426 making it 95% higher than the national median sale price of $412,198. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Atascadero is $2,287 a month, making it a bit lower than the $2,466 average rent in San Luis Obispo.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four will need a yearly income of $104,773 in order to live here.
If living in this locale is something you’re interested in, explore the latest listings for Atascadero, CA homes for sale.
Typical Atascadero Living Expenses
Want to get an idea of what sort of daily expenses you’ll be paying in Atascadero? Check out these everyday expenses for Atascadero, provided by Numbeo.
- Inexpensive restaurant: $16.50
- Cappuccino: $4.20
- Bottle of Coke: $2.12
- 1L (¼ Gallon) of Milk: $4.50
- Loaf of Bread: $3.64
- 12 Eggs: $3.74
- Average Atascadero Utilities per Month: $341
- Mobile Phone: $91
Where to Live in Atascadero
Atascadero is the sort of community that just doesn’t have distinctive communities like we usually think of when we think of neighborhoods. However, there’s still plenty to know about when it comes to geography and real estate! Check out Atascadero’s real estate information below:
When it comes to real estate, you’ll find that most of the most pricey homes are in the western, open portion of Atascadero, whereas the more affordable real estate is in the southeastern portions. Be rest assured, however, that no matter where you buy your home, you’ll be very pleased with your Atascadero living experience!
Atascadero, CA Climate and Weather
According to the Köppen classification, Atascadero is a dry-summer subtropical climate also commonly referred to as “Mediterranean.” This part of Atascadero experiences very little precipitation and is generally warm so expect lots of sunny days! Atascadero generally experiences dry summers peaking at around 88 degrees Fahrenheit and light sprinklings of rain in the winter months which at lowest average 37 degrees. In the city of Atascadero the most pleasant months of the year are October, May, and June making them all great options for visiting!
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Things to Do in Atascadero
Interested in learning about some of the best things to do in Atascadero? Check out the area’s exceptional shopping like in El Paseo Plaza! Atascadero also has a bright and bustling downtown area which features amazing culture, shopping, and dining! You should also check out some of the other best things to do in Atascadero, CA below:
Charles Paddock Zoo
The Charles Paddock Zoo is a great way to see animals from all over the world, set on 5 acres of beautiful Californian woodland!
9100 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 461-5080
Atascadero Lake Park
Walk the path around the stunningly beautiful Atascadero Lake, with a playground, paddle boats, and more!
9305 Pismo Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 461-5000
Sunken Gardens
Considered the center of Atascadero, the beautifully-manicured lawns, statues, fountain, and pathways means many local events choose to host themselves here.
6505 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 470-3360
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Atascadero, CA Additional Attractions:
Atascadero is served by the Atascadero parks & recreation department. See all the events that are planned in Atascadero with the Atascadero community calendar.
Places to Eat in Atascadero, CA
Alongside its host of things to do, Atascadero is also home to plenty of great eats! Check out some of the best places to eat in Atascadero, California below:
Street Side Ale House
Enjoy fantastic craft beers, pub grub, and watch the big game while eating at this fantastic ale house!
6155 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 460-6820
Sylvester’s Burgers
One of the highest-rated burgers in San Luis Obispo County, you won’t want to pass up this burger place while eating out in Atascadero.
6455 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 466-7591
Garcia’s Restaurant
Who in California doesn’t love the cuisine of Central America? Enjoy some of the best of its kind at Garcia’s!
9900 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422, (805) 460-6580
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Atascadero, CA Schools
Atascadero is mostly served by the Atascadero Unified School District, with over 4,000 students. The district services 7 elementary schools, 2 middle and junior high schools, and 2 high schools. Notable examples from the school district include the Monterey Road Elementary School, Atascadero Middle School, and Atascadero High.
Students and others in Atascadero are served by the Atascadero Regional Library, a branch of the San Luis Obispo Public Libraries system.
Jobs in Atascadero, CA
While not necessarily an economic powerhouse by any means, Atascadero will have plenty of job opportunities for all sorts of folks! According to Payscale, the most popular positions of employment are Software Engineer, Operations Manager, and Account Executive. The most popular employers in Atascadero are Atascadero State Hospital and Compass Health Care. The average salary for a worker in Atascadero is $66k a year, while the average hourly wage is $19.97.
See the latest openings for jobs in Atascadero here.
Map of Atascadero
Explore Atascadero’s large variety of things to do, places to eat, and more with this map!
Atascadero, CA Statistics & Information
- County: San Luis Obispo
- Atascadero area: 26.1 square miles
- Atascadero zip codes: 93422–93423
- Atascadero area codes: 805
- Atascadero elevation: 879 feet
- Atascadero time zone: PST
- Closest airport: San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP), 21.6 miles away
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