United States › California › Salinas CITY · 2020 ACS
Salinas California · 163,542 residents · 23.5 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Salinas is a city of 163,542 people in California. The foreign-born share is 37%. This skews young, with a median age of 31.6. 44% of homes are owner-occupied. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 16% of adults. The typical home is worth $451,000, having more than doubled since 2000.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 31.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 28.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
103K 120K 136K 153K 169K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Salinas Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $67,914
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,720 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,495 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 22.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Public administration 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Education & health services 0.9%
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$451,000
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $189,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,492
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $725 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 50.1% in 2000
55.8% rent
from 3.54 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 9.8 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 24.2%(36,535)
Hispanic / Latino 64.1%(96,880)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 11.2%(18,351)
Hispanic / Latino 79.6%(130,178)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 30 more ancestry groups with data from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 56.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 70.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 67.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 25.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 49.1%(30,159)
Women 15+
Never married 42.4%(25,845)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 25.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17%(567)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.8%(793)
Share of the 3,327 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Salinas, California? Salinas, California has about 163,542 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Salinas, California? The typical household in Salinas, California earns about $67,914 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 $451,000, and the typical rent is about $1,492 a month.
How educated are people in Salinas, California? About 16.0% 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 14.2% 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 54,765 residents, a change of about 50 percent over that period.
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