San Luis Obispo Neighborhood

Is Mill Street Historic District / Downtown SLO a Safe Place to Live? Housing, Crime & Buyer Guide

Explore safety, home prices, commute patterns, and neighborhood insights in San Luis Obispo, California - so you can decide with confidence before buying or renting.

Most buyers only see the home. Smart buyers check the neighborhood first.

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Hoodscore

Crime Summary:

Crime Overview (last 12 months)

Severe63

Medium44

Low152

Other724

48 Registered Offenders Nearby

Rape6

Child involved42

Assault3

Other1

Crime Details:

Recent reported incidents in the past 12 months (newest first). Up to 10 records.

Crime date	Crime description	Address	Crime category
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, an officer conducts a traffic stop near the intersection of El Camino Real and Cabrillo. The stop appears to involve a specific vehicle license plate.	CA-1 & El Camino Real, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Traffic
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, a medical call was reported for an unknown sick person near South Higuera Street, space (number withheld).	S Higuera St Spc 161, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401	Medical Emergency
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency medical crews were sent code 3 to a mobile home park on South Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo for a 49-year-old man with possible stroke symptoms, including a drooping face, vomiting, and numbness on his left side.	S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401	Medical Emergency
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency crews respond to a possible intoxicated person outside a business on Higuera Street, with police already on scene.	Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401	Substance Use
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, eMS and police respond code 2 to reports of an intoxicated person sitting on a bench near Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo.	Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401	Substance Use
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, officers conducted a traffic stop near Madonna Road and Los Osos Valley Road involving a Jeep utility vehicle. A records check on the vehicle reportedly came back clear and current.	Los Osos Valley Rd & Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Traffic
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, medical aid was requested for an alert and conscious person near northbound US-(number withheld) at Santa Rosa Street in San Luis Obispo. Police were on scene and requested medical assistance. The medical unit was dispatched but later canceled.	N Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Medical Emergency
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, a medical emergency was reported near northbound Highway 101 behind the police department area near Santa Rosa street. The call was later canceled by police on scene.	Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Medical Emergency
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, fire crews responded to reports of smoke near a hotel on Olive Street. A passerby reported seeing smoke but no flames, and an officer on scene later advised it appeared to be a barbecue.	Olive St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Fire
Jul 16, 2026	As discussed during the dispatch call, unit 95 is transporting a medical emergency code 2 to Sierra Vista. MedCom advised availability to Sierra Vista.	Murray Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405	Medical Emergency

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Median Home Price

$1,181,371

Average Rent

$2,281

Vacancy Rate

Nearby neighborhoods

Overview

Mill Street Historic District / Downtown SLO is an urban neighborhood in San Luis Obispo, CA, known for its historic buildings mostly built before 1939 and some between 1970 and 1999.

The area has a median home price of $1,181,371, which is higher than 68.1% of California neighborhoods, and an average rent of $2,281, lower than 84.0% of the state.

UrbanHistoric HomesHigh Renter Occupancy

Quick Facts

Short Commutes	67.5% under 15 minutes

Housing market and real estate character

The neighborhood's housing is primarily small to medium apartments and single-family homes, with a strong renter presence.

Renter Occupied Rate	87.9%
Vacancy Rate	6.0%
Historic Homes Built Before 1940	Majority
Homes Built 1970-1999	Significant portion

What buyers will notice right away

With nearly 88% renter occupancy, owner-occupied homes are rare in this neighborhood.

Many residences date back to before 1940, offering historic character.

Families & Lifestyle

This neighborhood has very low child poverty and a strong college student presence.

College-Focused Community — Over a third of residents are currently enrolled in college, reflecting a youthful, academic environment.

Low Child Poverty — No children live below the federal poverty line, indicating economic stability among families.

Child Poverty Rate	0.0%
College Enrollment	33.8%

Demographics

Executive, Management & Professional Occupations	49.5%
Sales & Service Occupations	34.0%
Portuguese Ancestry	3.5%
Russian Speakers at Home	1.0%
Top Languages	English (84.0%), Spanish, Chinese
Top Ancestries	Irish (20.8%), German (16.2%), Mexican (13.8%), English (9.6%), Italian (8.0%)

Commute

Most residents enjoy short commutes and primarily drive alone to work.

Mill Street Historic District / Downtown SLO offers some of the shortest commutes nationally, with a majority driving alone but a notable share walking or carpooling.

Short Commutes — Two-thirds of workers spend less than 15 minutes commuting.

Diverse Commute Modes — Besides driving alone, walking and carpooling are common.

Commute Under 15 Minutes	67.5%
Drive Alone Rate	64.4%
Walk to Work	9.8%
Carpool Rate	5.8%

Homes for sale near 93401

For-sale listings in this zip code. Open a property in HoodScore to run a safety report.

$5,995,000

4 bd | 5 ba | 3,929 sqft

506 Bella Terra Ct

San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401