United States › California › Carmel-by-the-Sea CITY
Carmel-by-the-Sea California · 3,105 residents (2025 est.) · 1.06 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 3,162 people, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city in California. At a median age of 68.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $2,000,000+. That puts it in the top 3% of US cities for household income. Renters pay $2,707 a month at the median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 68.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
73% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,081 in 2000
3,105 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,980 / sq mi
−18%since 2009
from 3,651 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 54.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 4K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Carmel-by-the-Sea Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $129,250
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,163 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $48,739 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 52.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.526 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 4.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.6%
Education & health services 0.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$2,000,001
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $660,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$2,707
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,120 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 57.0% in 2000
39.9% rent
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 1.81 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 32.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 12.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 92.7%(3,783)
Hispanic / Latino 2.9%(120)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 84.7%(2,678)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(143)
from 44 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data from 54.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 97.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 24.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 53.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 54.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 54.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 83.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 95.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 82.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 90.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 45.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 28.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 48.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 51.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 67.1%(141)
Share of the 210 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Carmel-by-the-Sea Head to head
Compare Carmel-by-the-Sea to nearby cities CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA VS
Monterey
Income $102,846 −20%
Home value $1,076,300 −46%
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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA VS
Pacific Grove
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Home value $1,190,400 −40%
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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA VS
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Home value $787,100 −61%
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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA VS
Marina
Income $95,955 −26%
Home value $818,700 −59%
Population 23,256 +649%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California? Carmel-by-the-Sea, California has about 3,162 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California? The typical household in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California earns about $129,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Carmel-by-the-Sea, California expensive? In Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, the median home is worth about $2,000,001, and the typical rent is about $2,707 a month.
How educated are people in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California? About 72.9% of adults age 25 and over in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California? About 6.2% of people in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Carmel-by-the-Sea, California grown since 1990? Yes, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 949 residents, a change of about -23 percent over that period.
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