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COUNTY

Monterey County

California · 433,729 residents (2025 est.) · 3,281.718 sq mi
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Part of the Salinas metro area
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Notable rankings
#34Most foreign-born residentsof 3,14429.6%#35Most expensive homesof 3,139$781,000#41Highest median rentof 3,137$2,055
The short version

Monterey County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $97,230. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $781,000. It ranks in the top 1% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
437,613
+9%since 2000
from 401,762 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
133 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 123 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.5
+12%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:433,729 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
347K372K397K422K447K1990201020202024Monterey 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%
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
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Monterey County on RentDataNow
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
2009 – 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)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population
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%
Self-employed
14.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.0%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% 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%
−47.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% 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%
−68.8 ptssince 2013
from 78.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 78.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Monterey County

Santa Barbara County
Pop 442,065
Orange County
Pop 417,669
Solano County
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

104 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 112.03Census Tract 112.02Census Tract 4Census Tract 111.05Census Tract 105.01Census Tract 106.06Census Tract 106.03Census Tract 147Census Tract 6Census Tract 2Census Tract 104Census Tract 7.02Census Tract 141.10Census Tract 109Census Tract 15Census Tract 1.06Census Tract 148Census Tract 105.06Census Tract 106.04Census Tract 133
31 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 93906ZIP 93905ZIP 93955ZIP 93940ZIP 93901ZIP 93933ZIP 93960ZIP 93907ZIP 93927ZIP 93930ZIP 93950ZIP 93923ZIP 93908ZIP 95012ZIP 93926ZIP 93924ZIP 93451ZIP 95004ZIP 93953ZIP 93944ZIP 93921ZIP 93426ZIP 93920ZIP 93925ZIP 93928ZIP 95039ZIP 93450ZIP 93932ZIP 93954ZIP 93962
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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