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CITY

Salinas

California · 159,134 residents (2025 est.) · 23.515 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#169Largest by populationof 4,896159,134#323Most foreign-born residentsof 6,82637.5%
The short version

Salinas is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $91,908. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $654,100. At a median age of 32.4, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 89%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
161,761
+7%since 2000
from 151,060 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,879 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 6,076 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
32.4
+14%since 2000
from 28.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:159,134 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
103K120K136K153K169K1990201020202024Salinas
2024162K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.9%(12,799)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98%(13,010)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(13,542)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.4%(13,661)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247%(11,260)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.1%(22,866)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.1%(22,793)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.3%(18,206)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.2%(16,524)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 746%(9,710)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.9%(4,684)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(2,706)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$91,908
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,720 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,650
+105%since 2000
from $14,495 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
59.6%
+28.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing18.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction18.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Information10.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$654,100
+89%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $189,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,991
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $725 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 50.1% in 2000
53.0% rent
Vacancy rate
3.6%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.6%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.1
−27%since 2009
from 9.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
54
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salinas on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic24.2%(36,535)
Black3%(4,569)
Hispanic / Latino64.1%(96,880)
Asian5.9%(8,840)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic11%(17,821)
Black1%(1,696)
Hispanic / Latino80.9%(130,828)
Asian5.4%(8,669)
Other1.7%(2,747)
Diversity Score
41
−26%since 2009
from 56 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican74.8%(120,964)
Central American3.2%(5,116)
Salvadoran2.4%(3,845)
Argentine0.6%(1,025)
Puerto Rican0.5%(887)
Guatemalan0.4%(635)
Spaniard0.4%(592)
Honduran0.3%(445)
Peruvian0.2%(247)
Cuban0.1%(242)
Uruguayan0.1%(156)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Panamanian0.1%(110)
Colombian0.1%(91)
Asian origin
Filipino3.4%(5,455)
Chinese1%(1,562)
Japanese0.3%(502)
Vietnamese0.2%(402)
Korean0.2%(390)
Asian Indian0.2%(359)
Hmong0.1%(100)
Thai0.1%(93)
Cambodian0%(36)
Mongolian0%(29)
Burmese0%(26)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Kazakh0%(14)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(185)
Guamanian0%(74)
Fijian0%(28)
Samoan0%(6)
Ancestry
English2.4%(3,947)
German2.2%(3,612)
Irish1.7%(2,780)
Italian1.7%(2,722)
American1.3%(2,056)
Portuguese0.6%(914)
Scottish0.6%(891)
French0.4%(649)
Russian0.3%(470)
Swedish0.3%(460)
Swiss0.3%(429)
Norwegian0.3%(410)
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.3%(409)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(405)
Danish0.2%(363)
Arab0.2%(348)
Dutch0.2%(282)
Czech0.1%(219)
Nigerian0.1%(181)
West Indian0.1%(125)
Brazilian0.1%(116)
Haitian0.1%(106)
Ukrainian0.1%(102)
Armenian0.1%(85)
British0.1%(84)
Canadian0%(73)
Hungarian0%(69)
Slovak0%(69)
Iranian0%(61)
Croatian0%(57)
Romanian0%(41)
Welsh0%(37)
Greek0%(31)
Jordanian0%(29)
Austrian0%(24)
Moroccan0%(23)
Finnish0%(14)
Somali0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Filipino population · Largest Central American population · Largest English population · Largest Salvadoran population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
62.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 56.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+54%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 70.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.9%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2011
from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.4%
−27.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Foreign born
37.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.6%
−48.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 7.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.3%
−62.7 ptssince 2013
from 75.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.4%
+19.5 ptssince 2017
from 74.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
26.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 29.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
68.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2016
from 65.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married49.1%(30,159)
Married43.9%(26,991)
Widowed1.9%(1,150)
Divorced5.2%(3,180)
Women 15+
Never married42.4%(25,845)
Married42.9%(26,135)
Widowed5.7%(3,481)
Divorced9%(5,469)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Salinas to nearby cities

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Income$103,819+13%
Home value$833,400+27%
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SALINAS VS
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SALINAS VS
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Income$85,311−7%
Home value$787,100+20%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Salinas, California?

Salinas, California has about 161,761 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salinas, California?

The typical household in Salinas, California earns about $91,908 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Salinas, California expensive?

In Salinas, California, the median home is worth about $654,100, and the typical rent is about $1,991 a month.

How educated are people in Salinas, California?

About 16.5% of adults age 25 and over in Salinas, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Salinas, California?

About 13.6% of people in Salinas, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Salinas, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Salinas, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 52,984 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →