Car Washes in San Diego County, CA — Market Data (2023)
185 car washes operate in San Diego County, CA, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 0.566 establishments per 10,000 residents, 1.6% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents for car washes. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 185 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 0.566 |
| Employment | 1,634 |
| Annual payroll | $46,112,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 8.8 |
| County population (2023) | 3,269,973 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower car washes density than San Diego County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Pima County, AZ: 0.564 per 10,000 residents (60 establishments)
- Franklin County, OH: 0.551 per 10,000 residents (73 establishments)
- Maricopa County, AZ: 0.534 per 10,000 residents (245 establishments)
- Dallas County, TX: 0.526 per 10,000 residents (137 establishments)
See the full Car Washes by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many car washes are there in San Diego County, CA?
185 car washes operate in San Diego County, CA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the car washes market in San Diego County, CA saturated compared to the national average?
San Diego County, CA has 0.566 car washes per 10,000 residents, which is 1.6% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a car washe business in San Diego County, CA?
The average car washe business in San Diego County, CA has about 8.8 employees (1,634 total employment ÷ 185 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for car washes?
Yes — Pima County, AZ has a lower density (0.564 per 10,000 residents) than San Diego County, CA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.