What are the schools like in Monterey, CA?

Monterey is served primarily by Monterey Peninsula Unified. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.7:1.

What is the median household income in Monterey?

The median household income in Monterey, CA is $98,003 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Monterey, CA?

Monterey 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.

Monterey, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Monterey, CA affordable or expensive?

Monterey's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Monterey is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $929,400 and the median rent is $2,195 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Monterey, CA?

Monterey has a violent crime rate of 382.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1781.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Monterey, CA a Good Place to Live?

Monterey is a small city of 30,007 in California, with a median household income of $98,003 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Monterey 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 Monterey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Monterey 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

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

Metric	Monterey, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$929,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,195	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	35.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$98,003	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Monterey's violent crime rate is 382.1 per 100,000 residents — 1% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

382.1 /100k

Property Crime

1781.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Monterey is served primarily by Monterey Peninsula Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Monterey, CA	National Avg
School District	Monterey Peninsula Unified	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	54.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Monterey 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	Monterey, CA
Average High — January	60.2°F
Average High — July	67.2°F
Annual Precipitation	20.4"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Monterey, CA	National Avg
Population	30,007	—
Median Age	36.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.2%	18.9%
Asian	7.8%	6.3%
Under 18	13.9%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sand City, CA 2 mi Pacific Grove, CA 3 mi Del Rey Oaks, CA 3 mi Del Monte Forest, CA 4 mi Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Monterey

Monterey, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

93940 93944 93943

Monterey vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monterey, CA affordable or expensive?

Monterey's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Monterey roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $929,400 and median rent is $2,195/month.

What is the crime rate in Monterey, CA?

Monterey's violent crime rate is 382.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1781.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Monterey?

Public schools in Monterey are operated by Monterey Peninsula Unified. The district has 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.7:1. 54.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Monterey, CA a good place to live?

Monterey, CA has a population of 30,007, a median household income of $98,003, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. 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 Monterey?

Monterey 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 Monterey?

Monterey, CA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 93940, 93944, 93943.

What is the population of Monterey?

The population of Monterey, California is 30,007 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Monterey?

Key numbers for living in Monterey: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $929,400, median household income $98,003, crime index 94 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Monterey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.