City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Monterey, CA

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

29,772
Residents
$104,110
Median income
$1,003,300
Median home
$4,214
Median rent (state)

Monterey - the verdict

Monterey ranks in the 80th percentile for household income and the 28th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

80th
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
100th
percentile, median rent
28th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Monterey, CA

California's Monterey is a small city, with 29,772 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Monterey households earn a median of $104,110 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.0%. Monterey's housing stock carries a median value of $1,003,300, and the median resident age is 37.1 years. 54.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 51.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 13 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 7% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2163.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Monterey's yearly average temperature at 56.8°F with 20.4 inches of precipitation per year and 0.3 inches of snowfall.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $4,214 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Monterey report an average commute of 14.8 minutes, with 58.3% driving alone and 20.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

29,772 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$104,110 /yr

Poverty 8.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Monterey compare to other US cities?

Here's how Monterey stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 100% pricier than other cities
Safety 28% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Monterey ranks #269 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Monterey'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.

80thIncome percentile
28thSafety percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income · 28th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Monterey's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Monterey's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Monterey's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Monterey's home value compares nationally

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

$1,003,300 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% 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. Monterey $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 - Monterey, CA Monterey, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Monterey, 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 Monterey, CA median $104,110/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%
Monterey, 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 Monterey, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 54.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.9%

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

Population
29,772
Median Income
$104,110
Median Home Value
$1,003,300
Median Age
37.1
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Labor force participation
51.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
54.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2163.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
382.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1781.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
56.8°F
Annual Precipitation
20.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
28,500 residents29,000 residents29,500 residents30,000 residents30,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 30,193 residents 28,953 residents ▼ -4.1%
Monterey's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
5
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 14
2020 14
2021 18
2022 6
2023 14
2024 13

Permit volume decreased 7% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.8 minutes
Drive Alone
58.3%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
3.2%
Walk
10.1%
Work from Home
20.5%
Other
3.4%

Based on 16,801 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 Monterey 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

San Carlos
29,797 people
Atascadero
29,735 people
San Lorenzo
29,453 people
Eastern Goleta Valley
29,411 people
Saratoga
30,335 people
Suisun City
29,205 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Monterey's 29,772 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rahway, NJ
29,748 people
Orchards, WA
29,716 people
Gloucester, MA
29,862 people
Crofton, MD
29,878 people
Hazleton, PA
29,886 people
Galesburg, IL
29,653 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Monterey's $104,110 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Marco Island, FL
$104,105 median income
Dorothy, NJ
$104,102 median income
Red Oak, TX
$104,125 median income
Bethel Park, PA
$104,129 median income
Williamsville, IL
$104,135 median income
Helmetta, NJ
$104,143 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Monterey, 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 Monterey, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.0% 6.7% 10.9% 11.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.1% White 67.0% Black or African American 3.3% Asian 6.7% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.5% Some other race 10.9% Two or more races 11.3% 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 Monterey 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
Monterey (this city) 29,772 $104,110
San Carlos 29,797 $233,333
Atascadero 29,735 $88,830
San Lorenzo 29,453 $110,495
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Monterey, CA?

What is the population of Monterey, CA? +

Monterey, CA counts 29,772 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Monterey, CA? +

Monterey households earn a median of $104,110 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Monterey? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Monterey; 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.

Is Monterey, CA safe? +

Monterey has a total crime rate of 2163.8 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Monterey, CA? +

Homes in Monterey carry a median value of $1,003,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Monterey? +

Monterey has an average annual temperature of 56.8°F, 20.4 inches of precipitation, and 0.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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.