Grocery Stores in San Diego County, CA — Market Data (2023)
580 grocery stores 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 1.774 establishments per 10,000 residents, 3.6% below the national average of 1.8409 per 10,000 residents for grocery stores. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 580 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 1.774 |
| Employment | 26,245 |
| Annual payroll | $984,759,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 45.2 |
| County population (2023) | 3,269,973 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower grocery stores density than San Diego County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Hennepin County, MN: 1.756 per 10,000 residents (221 establishments)
- Fairfax County, VA: 1.734 per 10,000 residents (198 establishments)
- Oakland County, MI: 1.716 per 10,000 residents (218 establishments)
- Orange County, FL: 1.672 per 10,000 residents (246 establishments)
See the full Grocery Stores by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many grocery stores are there in San Diego County, CA?
580 grocery stores operate in San Diego County, CA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the grocery stores market in San Diego County, CA saturated compared to the national average?
San Diego County, CA has 1.774 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, which is 3.6% below the national average of 1.8409 per 10,000 residents. That means fewer competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a grocery store business in San Diego County, CA?
The average grocery store business in San Diego County, CA has about 45.2 employees (26,245 total employment ÷ 580 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for grocery stores?
Yes — Hennepin County, MN has a lower density (1.756 per 10,000 residents) than San Diego County, CA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.