What are the schools like in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is served primarily by Carmel Unified. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

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

The median household income in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is $126,406 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA affordable or expensive?

Carmel-by-the-Sea's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carmel-by-the-Sea is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,763,300 and the median rent is $2,685 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a violent crime rate of 130.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1987.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Carmel-by-the-Sea has an average high temperature of 60.2°F in January and 67.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA a Good Place to Live?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small town of 3,239 in California, with a median household income of $126,406 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Carmel-by-the-Sea stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Carmel-by-the-Sea is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carmel-by-the-Sea city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 113.0

Carmel-by-the-Sea's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carmel-by-the-Sea costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,763,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,685	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$126,406	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carmel-by-the-Sea's violent crime rate is 130.3 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.3 /100k

Property Crime

1987.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carmel-by-the-Sea is served primarily by Carmel Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA	National Avg
School District	Carmel Unified	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	76.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carmel-by-the-Sea sees average highs of 60.2°F in January and 67.2°F in July, with 20.4 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Average High — January	60.2°F
Average High — July	67.2°F
Annual Precipitation	20.4"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA	National Avg
Population	3,239	—
Median Age	65.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	9.0%	22.2%
65 and over	50.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Del Monte Forest, CA 3 mi Monterey, CA 4 mi Pacific Grove, CA 5 mi Del Rey Oaks, CA 6 mi Sand City, CA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

93921 93923

Carmel-by-the-Sea vs Other Cities

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Del Monte Forest, CA Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Monterey, CA Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Pacific Grove, CA Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Del Rey Oaks, CA Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA vs Sand City, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA affordable or expensive?

Carmel-by-the-Sea's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Carmel-by-the-Sea roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,763,300 and median rent is $2,685/month.

What is the crime rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Carmel-by-the-Sea's violent crime rate is 130.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1987.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Public schools in Carmel-by-the-Sea are operated by Carmel Unified. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 76.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA a good place to live?

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA has a population of 3,239, a median household income of $126,406, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea averages 60.2°F in January and 67.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.4 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 93921, 93923.

What is the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea?

The population of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California is 3,239 with a median age of 65.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Key numbers for living in Carmel-by-the-Sea: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $1,763,300, median household income $126,406, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carmel-by-the-Sea side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.