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METRO AREA

Salinas Metro

Salinas, CA · 1 counties · 433,729 residents (2025 est.) · 3,281.718 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#10Most foreign-born residentsof 92529.6%#13Highest median rentof 925$2,055#20Most expensive homesof 925$781,000#43Highest median household incomeof 925$97,230
The short version

Salinas 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 metro areas 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
+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

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

Population, 1990 – 2024
347K372K397K422K447K1990201020202024Salinas
2024438K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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
+52%since 2000
from 5.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Salinas 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%
Diversity Score73.1%(293,532)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic26.9%(117,547)
Black2%(8,954)
Hispanic / Latino61.6%(269,490)
Asian5.5%(24,126)
Other4%(17,496)
Diversity Score67.9%(297,336)
Segregation Score55.5%(242,939)
Diversity Score
68
−7%since 2000
from 73 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
56
+2%since 2020
from 54 in 2020
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

SalinasCENTRAL159,134
What's inside

1 component county

Monterey CountyCENTRAL433,729
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Salinas

Santa Maria
Pop 442,065
Vallejo
Pop 455,376
Manchester
Pop 433,415
Anchorage
Pop 405,821
Places similar to Salinas
Head to head

Compare Salinas side by side

SALINAS VS
Santa Maria
Income$98,161+1%
Home value$790,700+1%
Population442,065+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALINAS VS
Vallejo
Income$100,401+3%
Home value$617,700−21%
Population455,376+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALINAS VS
Manchester
Income$103,545+6%
Home value$421,100−46%
Population433,415same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SALINAS VS
Anchorage
Income$100,683+4%
Home value$382,042−51%
Population405,821−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Salinas, CA?

Salinas, CA has about 437,613 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Salinas, CA?

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

Is Salinas, CA expensive?

In Salinas, CA, the median home is worth about $781,000, and the typical rent is about $2,055 a month.

How educated are people in Salinas, CA?

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

What is the poverty rate in Salinas, CA?

About 12.7% of people in Salinas, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Salinas, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Salinas, CA 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 · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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