State rank#21 of 58
Smallest county437,613 residentsLos Angeles County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 06053
Monterey County, California
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population437,613
Household income$97,230
Unemployment7.3%
Life expectancy80.8 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Monterey County has 437,613 residents and ranks #21 by population among California county equivalents. Median household income is $97,230. The annual-average unemployment rate is 7.3%. Its clearest relative strength is life expectancy. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within California
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Monterey County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Monterey County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is life expectancy.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $781,000 median home value and $2,055/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,230, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Monterey County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing life expectancy, median household income, and mental health access. College attainment is 28.2% and life expectancy is 80.8 years.
Potential advantages
- Life expectancy: 80.8 years, rank #13 of 57 available California counties.
- Median household income: $97,230, rank #21 of 58 available California counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 217 residents, rank #24 of 58 available California counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 11.6%, rank #58 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 7.3%, rank #48 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 22.8%, rank #47 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within California
Rank and range use only counties in California with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$97,230
$97,230; above the state county median of $83,473.
State rank #21 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$781,000
$781,000; above the state county median of $481,100.
State rank #42 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$2,055/mo
$2,055/mo; above the state county median of $1,624/mo.
State rank #41 of 56 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
7.3%
7.3%; above the state county median of 5.5%.
State rank #48 of 58 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
28.2%
28.2%; above the state county median of 25.7%.
State rank #28 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
80.8 years
80.8 years; above the state county median of 78.2 years.
State rank #13 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
22.8%
22.8%; above the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #47 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
11.6%
11.6%; above the state county median of 7.3%.
State rank #58 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,545 residents
1 per 1,545 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,459 residents.
State rank #32 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 217 residents
1 per 217 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 247 residents.
State rank #24 of 58 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Monterey County FAQ
Is Monterey County a good place to live?
Monterey County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing life expectancy, median household income, and mental health access. College attainment is 28.2% and life expectancy is 80.8 years.
What should I know before moving to Monterey County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $781,000 median home value and $2,055/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,230, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Monterey County?
Monterey County has 437,613 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Monterey County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 06053; the parent state FIPS is 06.
What is the median household income in Monterey County?
The ACS median household income is $97,230.
How much does housing cost in Monterey County?
Housing benchmarks are $781,000 median home value and $2,055/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,230, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Monterey County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 7.3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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