Vista was listed as the seventh-best place in the United States for family life, based on factors such as jobs and business opportunities, education, climate, and cost-of-living in a 2008 review.
As of the census of 2000, there were 89,857 people, 28,877 households, and 20,791 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,857.3/km² (4,810.0/mi²). There were 29,814 housing units at an average density of 616.2/km² (1,595.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.27% White, 4.24% African American, 1.00% Native American, 3.70% Asian, 0.68% Pacific Islander, 21.33% from other races, and 4.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 38.94% of the population.
Vista and nearby San Marcos had a large Japanese American community since the late 1800s. Older sections of Vista are predominantly Latino (Mexicans in particular). And there are several thousand American Jews now living in Vista, a small part of the community's multiplicity of religions and cultures. Demographers stated Vista has a "minority-majority" population as Non-Hispanic whites are under half the city's population.
There were 28,877 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.48. The FBI crime index for 2005 was 32.9 for every 1000 residents.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,594, and the median income for a family was $45,649. Males had a median income of $32,936 versus $25,812 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,027. About 10.0% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
According to estimates by the San Diego Association of Governments, the median household income of Vista in 2005 was $60,531 (not adjusted for inflation). When adjusted for inflation (1999 dollars; comparable to Census data above), the median household income was $49,153.