CensusEasy
CITY

Seaside

California · 31,636 residents (2025 est.) · 8.92 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Salinas metro area
Compare
The short version

Seaside is home to 31,814 people in California. Owners hold 35% of the housing stock. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $787,100. The median age is 34.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. Median rent is $2,409 a month. 26% of locals were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
31,814
Unchangedsince 2000
from 31,696 in 2000
31,636 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,565 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 3,758 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
34.0
+15%since 2000
from 29.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
8.92 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K35K37K40K19902000201020202024Seaside
202432K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(1,594)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(2,030)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.4%(2,047)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.5%(2,696)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.7%(2,765)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.5%(5,249)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.3%(4,235)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(3,804)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.5%(3,335)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(2,532)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.3%(1,036)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(491)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$85,311
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,393 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,196
+125%since 2000
from $15,183 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.8%
+19.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
+13%since 2010
from 0.370 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade3.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$787,100
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $232,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,409
+63%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $810 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
35.4%
−8.5 ptssince 2000
from 44.0% in 2000
64.6% rent
Vacancy rate
4.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.91 people
−7%since 2009
from 3.13 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
31.1%
−13.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
62.9%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
9.2
−8%since 2009
from 10.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic36.4%(11,526)
Black12.1%(3,836)
Hispanic / Latino34.5%(10,929)
Asian9.9%(3,134)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic29.4%(9,350)
Black4.7%(1,487)
Hispanic / Latino48.2%(15,343)
Asian9.4%(3,002)
Other8.3%(2,632)
Diversity Score
83
−6%since 2009
from 88 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
Mexican41.1%(13,073)
Central American3.7%(1,185)
Salvadoran3.2%(1,014)
Puerto Rican1.5%(484)
Peruvian0.6%(183)
Guatemalan0.4%(126)
Spaniard0.3%(83)
Colombian0.3%(82)
Dominican0.1%(36)
Chilean0.1%(21)
Venezuelan0.1%(19)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino5.4%(1,703)
Japanese0.9%(289)
Chinese0.8%(267)
Asian Indian0.8%(246)
Vietnamese0.7%(236)
Korean0.6%(188)
Pakistani0.3%(97)
Thai0.1%(25)
Taiwanese0.1%(19)
Hmong0%(13)
Burmese0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0.7%(207)
Guamanian0.6%(187)
Samoan0.5%(144)
Chamorro0.2%(67)
Tongan0.1%(40)
Ancestry
German5.9%(1,878)
Irish5.6%(1,773)
English4.6%(1,478)
Italian4.5%(1,431)
American2%(622)
French1.6%(506)
Scottish1.1%(358)
Swedish1.1%(335)
Portuguese0.8%(253)
Swiss0.8%(248)
Arab0.7%(227)
+ 36 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.6%(205)
Norwegian0.6%(182)
British0.5%(159)
Welsh0.5%(150)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(136)
Polish0.4%(129)
Danish0.4%(120)
Russian0.4%(116)
Greek0.3%(88)
Armenian0.3%(82)
Hungarian0.2%(72)
Czech0.2%(61)
Ukrainian0.2%(55)
Serbian0.1%(43)
Palestinian0.1%(35)
Nigerian0.1%(34)
Canadian0.1%(33)
Australian0.1%(30)
Moroccan0.1%(29)
Austrian0.1%(29)
Romanian0.1%(22)
Iraqi0.1%(21)
Slovak0.1%(16)
Ethiopian0%(15)
Belgian0%(14)
Bulgarian0%(13)
Lebanese0%(12)
Finnish0%(10)
Syrian0%(8)
Iranian0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.6%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.8%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+75%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.9%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.4%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 74.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
11.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.5%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.2% in 2009
Female
49.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.8% in 2009
Foreign born
26.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.6%
−13.9 ptssince 2013
from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.4%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 83.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 93.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
82.5%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 82.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
55.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2016
from 52.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
35.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 36.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married45.1%(5,843)
Married45.2%(5,849)
Widowed1.8%(237)
Divorced7.9%(1,017)
Women 15+
Never married42.4%(5,592)
Married42%(5,542)
Widowed5.6%(745)
Divorced10%(1,318)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
12.6%
−13.9 ptssince 2013
from 26.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
46.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2020
from 42.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
13.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 13.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
27.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2020
from 28.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 2.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
60.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 59.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
38.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 40.0% 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)39.8%(541)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16.2%(220)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.6%(280)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War11.3%(153)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(14)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,359 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 Seaside

Rockledge
Pop 31,343
New Smyrna Beach
Pop 33,182
Lakeside
Pop 32,105
West Melbourne
Pop 31,285
Places similar to Seaside
Head to head

Compare Seaside to nearby cities

SEASIDE VS
Monterey
Income$102,846+21%
Home value$1,076,300+37%
Population28,953−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SEASIDE VS
Marina
Income$95,955+12%
Home value$818,700+4%
Population23,256−26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SEASIDE VS
Pacific Grove
Income$106,065+24%
Home value$1,190,400+51%
Population14,659−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SEASIDE VS
Salinas
Income$91,908+8%
Home value$654,100−17%
Population159,134+403%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Seaside, California?

Seaside, California has about 31,814 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Seaside, California?

The typical household in Seaside, California earns about $85,311 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Seaside, California expensive?

In Seaside, California, the median home is worth about $787,100, and the typical rent is about $2,409 a month.

How educated are people in Seaside, California?

About 29.6% of adults age 25 and over in Seaside, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Seaside, California?

About 16.0% of people in Seaside, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Seaside, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Seaside, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 7,079 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California

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

How we source and harmonize this data →