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COUNTY

Monterey County

California · 433,729 residents (2025 est.) · 3,282 sq mi
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Part of the Salinas metro area
The short version

Monterey County is home to 437,613 people in California. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $781,000. Few US counties rank higher on income. 30% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 52% of the housing stock. The median age is 35.5, younger than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $97,230, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 68%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Monterey County

What changed most since 1990

  • Hispanic share32.7% → 61.6% (+28.8 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
  • Adults with a bachelor's degree21.5% → 28.2% (+6.7 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
  • White share53.0% → 26.9% (−26.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts

Among the 58 counties in California

  • 21st in household income$97,230
  • 28th in share with a bachelor's degree28.2%
  • 17th in home value$781,000
  • 31st in diversity score67.9
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
437,613
+9%since 2000
from 401,762 in 2000
433,729 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
133 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 122 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.5
+12%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
3,282 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
347K372K397K422K447K19902000201020202024Monterey County
2024438K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.5%(28,601)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(30,859)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.5%(32,985)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.6%(33,391)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.9%(30,387)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.5%(59,127)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.3%(58,277)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(51,374)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.9%(47,544)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748.7%(38,290)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.2%(18,349)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(8,429)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$97,230
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,305 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,422
+100%since 2000
from $20,165 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
61.9%
+23.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
+3%since 2010
from 0.450 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$781,000
+68%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $254,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,055
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $776 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 54.6% in 2000
47.9% rent
Vacancy rate
8.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
3.16 people
+2%since 2009
from 3.09 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
29.2%
−16.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.1%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.0
−21%since 2009
from 10.2 in 2009
1990 – 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
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic40.3%(162,045)
Black3.5%(14,085)
Hispanic / Latino46.8%(187,969)
Asian5.8%(23,203)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic26.9%(117,547)
Black2%(8,954)
Hispanic / Latino61.6%(269,490)
Asian5.5%(24,126)
Other4%(17,496)
Diversity Score
68
−9%since 2009
from 74 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
56
+2%since 2020
from 54 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican56.3%(246,333)
Central American2.2%(9,596)
Salvadoran1.6%(6,929)
South American0.7%(3,169)
Puerto Rican0.6%(2,419)
Spaniard0.4%(1,617)
Guatemalan0.3%(1,314)
Argentine0.3%(1,205)
Honduran0.2%(886)
Cuban0.2%(751)
Peruvian0.1%(599)
Colombian0.1%(562)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Ecuadorian0.1%(230)
Chilean0%(200)
Panamanian0%(190)
Uruguayan0%(178)
Dominican0%(164)
Venezuelan0%(109)
Bolivian0%(41)
Asian origin
Filipino2.6%(11,519)
Chinese0.9%(3,987)
Asian Indian0.5%(2,091)
Japanese0.5%(2,043)
Korean0.4%(1,878)
Vietnamese0.3%(1,475)
Pakistani0.1%(252)
Thai0%(189)
Hmong0%(155)
Taiwanese0%(152)
Mongolian0%(116)
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data
Nepalese0%(116)
Burmese0%(95)
Cambodian0%(94)
Kazakh0%(65)
Malaysian0%(27)
Laotian0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(637)
Chamorro0.1%(610)
Tongan0.1%(503)
Fijian0.1%(492)
Guamanian0.1%(272)
Ancestry
English5.7%(24,888)
German5.6%(24,589)
Irish5%(21,836)
Italian3.5%(15,229)
American1.5%(6,754)
French1.2%(5,319)
Scottish1.2%(5,160)
Portuguese1%(4,470)
Polish0.7%(3,251)
Swedish0.6%(2,423)
Norwegian0.6%(2,415)
Arab0.5%(2,325)
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.5%(2,050)
Swiss0.5%(2,047)
Russian0.5%(1,976)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(1,822)
Danish0.4%(1,621)
Welsh0.3%(1,420)
British0.2%(1,029)
Greek0.2%(759)
Ukrainian0.2%(682)
Czech0.2%(676)
Hungarian0.2%(660)
Iranian0.1%(593)
Armenian0.1%(578)
Lebanese0.1%(561)
Croatian0.1%(493)
West Indian0.1%(479)
Nigerian0.1%(449)
Austrian0.1%(448)
Brazilian0.1%(400)
Canadian0.1%(399)
Egyptian0.1%(351)
Slovak0.1%(342)
Jamaican0.1%(267)
Finnish0.1%(258)
Belgian0%(207)
Syrian0%(202)
Lithuanian0%(196)
Serbian0%(158)
Haitian0%(139)
Romanian0%(136)
Australian0%(119)
Slovene0%(114)
Iraqi0%(98)
Ethiopian0%(77)
Bulgarian0%(54)
Turkish0%(53)
Moroccan0%(52)
Israeli0%(47)
Jordanian0%(46)
Somali0%(21)
Latvian0%(12)
Ghanaian0%(12)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.2%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 22.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 68.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.4 min
+59%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.9%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.8%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.1%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
69.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 68.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
14.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.0%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Female
49.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Foreign born
29.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 8.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.6%
−12.0 ptssince 2013
from 21.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 78.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
from 93.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 88.2% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
43.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 46.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
49.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2016
from 47.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married43.3%(76,377)
Married47.7%(84,130)
Widowed2.1%(3,670)
Divorced6.8%(12,066)
Women 15+
Never married37.2%(62,875)
Married46.9%(79,233)
Widowed6.4%(10,860)
Divorced9.4%(15,957)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
9.6%
−12.0 ptssince 2013
from 21.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
45.2%
−1.9 ptssince 2020
from 47.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 11.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
15.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
33.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 30.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
55.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2020
from 58.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2020
from 42.2% 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)25.1%(3,360)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.7%(2,899)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era33.2%(4,445)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.5%(870)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.3%(302)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 13,371 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
Over time

Monterey County, decade by decade

Monterey County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990355,660$80,450$471,13421.5%75.4
2000401,762$87,995$464,15822.5%76.6
2010415,057$85,266$814,66323.4%72.5
2020439,035$93,258$678,01526.2%69.4
2024437,613$97,230$781,00028.2%67.9

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Monterey County

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Pop 442,065
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Pop 417,669
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Pop 455,376
Hillsborough County
Pop 433,415
Places similar to Monterey County
Head to head

Compare Monterey County to nearby counties

MONTEREY COUNTY VS
San Benito County
Income$114,394+18%
Home value$793,400+2%
Population70,082−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONTEREY COUNTY VS
Santa Cruz County
Income$111,093+14%
Home value$1,027,500+32%
Population258,852−40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONTEREY COUNTY VS
Santa Clara County
Income$164,281+69%
Home value$1,490,600+91%
Population1,914,391+341%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONTEREY COUNTY VS
Merced County
Income$65,510−33%
Home value$391,800−50%
Population297,260−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Monterey County, California?

Monterey County, California has about 437,613 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Monterey County, California?

The typical household in Monterey County, California earns about $97,230 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Monterey County, California expensive?

In Monterey County, California, the median home is worth about $781,000, and the typical rent is about $2,055 a month.

How educated are people in Monterey County, California?

About 28.2% of adults age 25 and over in Monterey County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Monterey County, California?

About 12.7% of people in Monterey County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Monterey County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Monterey County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 81,953 residents, a change of about 23 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 →