1st Advantage MortgageThe median Monterey County household earns $97,230, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Monterey County, CA: the basics
- Household income in Monterey County
- Work, industries and travel time in Monterey County
- Renting and owning in Monterey County
- The counties around Monterey County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Monterey County
- Who lives in Monterey County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Monterey County
- What a median Monterey County budget can carry
- Checklist for Monterey County applicants
- California rules that apply in Monterey County
- More guides for Monterey County
- Frequently asked questions
Monterey County, CA: the basics
With an estimated 437,613 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Monterey County ranks 21st of 58 in California for population. Packed into 3,282 square miles, that is close to 133 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Salinas, CA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Salinas is the biggest of its 29 Census places, at roughly 161,761 people (37% of the county total).
Household income in Monterey County
Half of Monterey County households take in less than $97,230 a year and half take in more, 2% below the California median of $99,122. In the state ranking that is 21st of 58.
| Income band | Share in Monterey County | Difference from California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.7% | -2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.7% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | +2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.8% | -3.8 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.7%, 1 point higher than the state's 12.0%. For a borrower in Monterey County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Monterey County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 14%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Monterey County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Monterey County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.3% | +12.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Monterey County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $2,055 in Monterey County versus $2,036 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. Home values center on $781,000, or 8.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 52% of homes. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Monterey County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,055/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $781,000 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 52% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 38% | n/a |
For the many renters in Monterey County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The counties around Monterey County
San Benito County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kings County, is 84 miles off. Income ranges from $65,510 in Merced County to $164,281 in Santa Clara County; 4 of these neighbors top Monterey County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey County | - | $97,230 | $2,055/mo | 52% |
| San Benito County, CA | 29 mi | $114,394 | $1,992/mo | 68% |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 66 mi | $111,093 | $2,264/mo | 60% |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 71 mi | $164,281 | $2,857/mo | 55% |
| Merced County, CA | 74 mi | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| San Luis Obispo County, CA | 76 mi | $97,446 | $1,992/mo | 62% |
| Kings County, CA | 84 mi | $70,995 | $1,331/mo | 54% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Monterey County
The table lists the 14 largest of 29 Census places in Monterey County, by population. Together all 29 hold about 384,216 people, so roughly 12% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $156,161 at the median in Carmel Valley Village, $59,125 in Chualar. No Monterey County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 29.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | city | 161,761 | $91,908 | $1,991 | 36 mi |
| Seaside | city | 31,814 | $85,311 | $2,409 | 39 mi |
| Monterey | city | 29,613 | $102,846 | $2,353 | 40 mi |
| Soledad | city | 26,365 | $96,862 | $1,698 | 13 mi |
| Marina | city | 22,563 | $95,955 | $2,101 | 40 mi |
| Greenfield | city | 20,232 | $84,740 | $1,724 | 7 mi |
| Prunedale | CDP | 19,723 | $103,819 | $1,618 | 44 mi |
| Pacific Grove | city | 14,951 | $106,065 | $2,455 | 43 mi |
| King City | city | 13,604 | $66,761 | $1,534 | 10 mi |
| Gonzales | city | 8,492 | $77,672 | $1,524 | 20 mi |
| Castroville | CDP | 6,720 | $89,354 | $1,948 | 44 mi |
| Carmel Valley Village | CDP | 4,785 | $156,161 | $2,211 | 29 mi |
| Del Monte Forest | CDP | 3,613 | $142,763 | $3,501 | 42 mi |
| Las Lomas | CDP | 3,355 | $86,775 | $1,969 | 49 mi |
Who lives in Monterey County, in numbers
Degree holders: 28% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.6%, against 6.6% for California.
| Residents | Monterey County | California | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.2% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 26.7% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Monterey County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Before borrowing in Monterey County
Where the Monterey County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Monterey County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Monterey County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Monterey County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
What a median Monterey County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Monterey County's medians:
- $97,230 a year is $8,102 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $2,055 uses 25%
- $862: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Monterey County applicants
A short checklist for Monterey County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A California license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
California rules that apply in Monterey County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Monterey County, check the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Monterey County
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monterey County a high-income county?
Its $97,230 median ranks 21st of 58 California counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Monterey County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $2,055 against $2,036 statewide, and 56% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Monterey County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Salinas, Seaside, Monterey, Soledad, Marina and 24 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Monterey County or elsewhere in California, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Monterey County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.