If you head about 40 miles northwest of Santa Maria, you’ll find a quiet and comfortable place called Los Osos, CA. This nice community is located next to other cities nearby such as San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay as well as the local Montaña de Oro State Park. Los Osos is also known as a bedroom community for San Luis Obispo which is 10 miles away.
Also known as Baywood-Los Osos, residents living in Los Osos agree it’s a great place to call home. The area offers great weather, enjoyable amenities, and a good school system. Art Clokey, the animator for the famous cartoon Gumby, is from Los Osos.
Anyone thinking about moving to Los Osos will love everything the city has to offer as they find everything they could ever need or want within its borders.
1. People of Los Osos, CA – Population & Demographics
The Los Osos population has reached 15,603 residents with a median age of 48 years old. The city has seen slow but steady growth over the last 10 years as about 2,000 new residents have relocated to Los Osos in that time frame.
With an average salary that nearly matches the national standard, the median household income in Los Osos is $69,056. Additional Los Osos demographics show the local population consists of about 79% Caucasian, 12% Hispanic or Latino, 4% Asian, and about 1% Black or African American. The gender ratio is almost a perfect 50-50 split between males and females.
2. Things to Do in Los Osos
Locals have more than their share of fun attractions in Los Osos that are worth a visit (or two). One of the best things to do in Los Osos is head over to the large area of Montaña de Oro State Park, where you can go camping, ride along bike paths, enjoy a picnic, catch some fish, or simply spend a day at the beach relaxing. Whether you want to do some wildlife watching or catch some waves, this is a great spot to hang out.
View this post on Instagram
Montaña de Oro State Park, 3550 Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos, CA 93402 (805) 528-0513
Another popular place to visit in Los Osos is Elfin Forest, a 90-acre space with numerous types of environments. You can wander around sand dunes or find yourself in a thick woodland depending on which part of the forest you visit. The area is filled with unique plant life and attracts many different species of birds.
View this post on Instagram
Elfin Forest, At North end of 11. Handicap access at 16th Street, 17th St, Los Osos, CA 93402 (805) 528-0392
Additional Los Osos Attractions
- Los Osos Oaks State Reserve, 1801 Los Osos Valley Rd, Los Osos, CA 93402
- Morro Coast Audubon Society Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, 660 Ramona Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402
- Los Osos Community Park, 2180 Palisades Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402
3. Los Osos Restaurants
Ready to learn all about the best restaurants in Los Osos? For a unique dining experience, stop by Sylvester’s Burgers and try one of their various dishes. Their menu is filled with many types of meat including buffalo burgers, elk burgers, wild boar burgers, turkey burgers, standard beef burgers, and a variety of other sandwiches.
View this post on Instagram
Sylvester’s Burgers, 1099 Santa Ynez Ave, Los Osos, CA 93402 (805) 528-0779
Pretty much right next door to Sylvesters’ is another one of the top places to eat in Los Osos called La Casita Restaurant. For many years, they’ve been serving Mexican-style plates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try anything from tostadas and fajitas to burritos, enchiladas, and chimichangas.
View this post on Instagram
La Casita Restaurant, 2008 9th St, Los Osos, CA 93402 (805) 528-2786
4. Cost of Living in Los Osos, CA
Los Osos is often considered an affordable place to live compared to other parts of the state. The cost of living in Los Osos is about 45% higher than the national average but 5% lower than the California average. You can plan on paying less for healthcare, utilities, and local transportation but more for groceries and housing.
Home to a population made up of about 69% homeowners, there are many nice Los Osos, CA homes for sale around the city. As you look around and consider which area is right for you, the average listing price of homes in Los Osos will generally be around $750,000. The listing will include everything from small affordable homes up to multi-million dollar properties, selling for a median sale price per square foot of $402.
With the other 31% leasing their homes or apartments when residing in Los Osos, newcomers will have enough options available if they decide to rent. The average price of rent in Los Osos varies depending on the size of your home and where it is located, ranging from $1,650 to $4,950 per month
5. Los Osos Neighborhoods
Covering a small area of only 13 square miles, it’s easy to get around local neighborhoods in Los Osos. The community is walkable but there will be a need for your own car if you work outside of town.
A few of the best neighborhoods in Los Osos include:
- Baywood Park
- Redfield Woods
- Los Olivos
- Sea Oaks
Placed along the midwest border of San Luis Obispo County, the city of Los Osos has only two zip codes: 93402 and 93405. If you decide to get a new phone number after relocating to Los Osos, plan on switching to an 805 area code.
More than enough shopping locations are spread across town for locals living in Los Osos. A few of the top places to shop are Bay Osos Village Center, Starbucks, Los Osos Mexican Market, Grocery Outlet, Nifty Thrifty Thrift Shop, and the San Miguel Market & Deli.
6. Los Osos Schools
With only about 2,003 children between the age of 5 and 17 years old residing in Los Osos, the area has a small but reliable education system. Local schools are part of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, where kids are part of reputable programs focused on their success.
The main schools in Los Osos are:
- Monarch Grove Elementary School
- Baywood Elementary School
- Los Osos Middle School
New high school graduates won’t find any colleges in Los Osos but anyone looking for a great secondary education will be less than 11 miles away from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
7. Jobs in Los Osos
Although most of the city is residential and natural land, there are still plenty of great places to work in and around Los Osos. A few of the top careers in Los Osos include admin support, sales, business management, teaching, construction, and healthcare support. People moving to Los Osos will have opportunities in some of the most common industries such as healthcare, educational services, retail, construction, technical services, public administration, and finance.
The largest employers that promote Los Osos jobs include:
If you plan to commute from Los Osos to San Luis Obispo nearby, your trip will be less than 12 miles each way, which only takes about 20 minutes in both directions.
8. Los Osos, CA Weather
Right next to Morro Bay State Park and the California coast, you can always count on the weather in Los Osos to be cool, comfortable, and dry.
Summer temperatures stay pleasant as they hover between lows in the 50s and highs just over 70°F. Winters cool down only slightly as the temps stay around the low 40s to the low 60s. Throughout the year, people residing in Los Osos will only see about 18 inches of rainfall.
Living in Los Osos Pros & Cons
- Pro: Affordable place to live compared to many other California cities.
- Pro: Great weather and easy access to nice beaches on the Pacific Coast.
- Con: There are no big cities within at least an hour’s drive from Los Osos.
Moving to Los Osos, CA
Does relocating to Los Osos sound like the home of your dreams? The top-rated Los Osos movers on our team here at Mentors Moving is ready to make it happen for you! Give us a call today at (707) 596-4945 or fill out the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!
