City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carmel-by-the-Sea - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,186
Residents
$115,729
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$4,214
Median rent (state)

Carmel-by-the-Sea - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Carmel-by-the-Sea lands in the 86th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

86th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
100th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,186 residents in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small town within California. Median household income here is $115,729 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Carmel-by-the-Sea run a median of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 68.9 years. About 76.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 50.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 4 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 33% from five years earlier.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $4,214 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

3,186 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$115,729 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Carmel-by-the-Sea compare to other US cities?

Carmel-by-the-Sea measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 100% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Carmel-by-the-Sea's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

86thIncome percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Carmel-by-the-Sea's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$2,000,001 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Carmel-by-the-Sea $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA median $115,729/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 76.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,186
Median Income
$115,729
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
68.9
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
50.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
76.0%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,050 residents3,100 residents3,150 residents3,200 residents3,250 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,219 residents 3,105 residents ▼ -3.5%
Carmel-by-the-Sea's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 1
2021 4
2022 1
2023 8
2024 4

Permit volume decreased 33% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
45.0%
Carpool
31.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.4%
Work from Home
15.7%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,519 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carmel-by-the-Sea sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$4,214/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Dogtown
3,180 people
Hayfork
3,198 people
Weaverville
3,198 people
Pine Hills
3,200 people
Nevada City
3,168 people
Mount Shasta
3,208 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carmel-by-the-Sea's 3,186 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Six Mile Run, NJ
3,185 people
Vado, NM
3,185 people
Brightwaters, NY
3,185 people
Delhi, NY
3,185 people
Comunas comunidad, PR
3,187 people
West Burlington, IA
3,184 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carmel-by-the-Sea's $115,729 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Woodway, TX
$115,729 median income
Middleburg, VA
$115,724 median income
West Falmouth, MA
$115,735 median income
Champlin, MN
$115,719 median income
Crabtree, OR
$115,750 median income
Vashon, WA
$115,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.0% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.8% White 87.0% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 2.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 7.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carmel-by-the-Sea compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carmel-by-the-Sea (this city) 3,186 $115,729
Dogtown 3,180 $126,042
Hayfork 3,198 $45,918
Weaverville 3,198 $73,670
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

What is the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA? +

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA has a population of 3,186 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA? +

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the typical household earns $115,729 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carmel-by-the-Sea? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carmel-by-the-Sea; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA? +

Homes in Carmel-by-the-Sea carry a median value of $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.