On June 9, 2026, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) hosted the “Exploring Regional Progress with the 2026 State of the Region Report” Toolbox Tuesday session to examine major trends in Southern California.

The 2026 State of the Region Report is a comprehensive assessment of the region through various lenses including demographics, mobility, communities, environment, and economy. It shows historical trends and current conditions to measure progress, benchmark performance and highlight any gaps between policy objectives and outcomes.

Southern California has changed in obvious, but sometimes surprising, ways since 2000. Report data reveal statistical nuances behind the region’s slowing population growth, namely that increasing numbers of households and smaller average household sizes are still pressuring the region’s infamously expensive housing market. The region’s demographics are also defined by aging and a more heterogeneous, multiracial population.

The report also reveals a reduced reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, with more trips shifting to public transit, per capita, as the region continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced vehicle traffic could explain steady gains in air quality seen in the report, but there’s still plenty of work ahead on the environment: the report reveals increased energy use due to changes in the economy, and mounting pressure on state water supplies.

Finally, the region’s economy has shown remarkable resilience through multiple shocks and stressors. Unemployment decreased by half from 2020 to 2024, and the region’s GDP continues to rise, accounting for almost half of California’s total GDP. Median household income is also increasing while the region’s poverty rate is decreasing.

Watch the recording below or access the presentation slides