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Living in
Pacific Grove.
About
Life in Pacific Grove
This quiet coastal town of about 15,000 people has a distinctly mature character—nearly 29% of residents are 65 or older—which shapes everything from the pace of life to the community's values around preservation. What started as a Methodist retreat in the 1870s evolved into an art colony and fishing village, and that creative, somewhat bohemian DNA still lingers, though these days you're more likely to encounter retirees and remote workers than struggling artists. The trade-off is immediate and unavoidable: housing costs are steep, with median home values around $1.13 million and median rent at $2,455 per month—you're paying for those ocean views and the lifestyle, not job density.
Pacific Grove at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
51.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Foreign-Born
13.8%
Broadband Internet
94.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.8% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Pacific Grove: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pacific Grove, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (10.9%), and 6.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.6%
of residents
65 and Older
30.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.7%
of households
Married Couples
46.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Pacific Grove
In Pacific Grove, rent runs 21% above the CA average, and home values are 62% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
109.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,942
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,366,979 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.4 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Pacific Grove
Unemployment in Monterey County, which includes Pacific Grove, is 2.4 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Pacific Grove: Monterey County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Monterey County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Pacific Grove is about 3% of Monterey County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Pacific Grove Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.1 min avg
How Pacific Grove residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pacific Grove, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
Regional airport · few flights326k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pacific Grove runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
108.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
770.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pacific Grove Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Monterey County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Monterey County, which includes Pacific Grove, the most common type is flood, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Flood | $30 |
| 2024 | 16 | Flood | $50 |
| 2023 | 19 | Flood | $1,090 |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 19 | Strong Wind | $1,050 |
| 2020 | 19 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2019 | 43 | Strong Wind | $12,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
226 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Monterey County, county-wide
Pacific Grove is about 3% of Monterey County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Monterey County, which includes Pacific Grove, is typically good — 314 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
314
per year
Moderate Days
51
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Monterey County, county-wide
Pacific Grove is about 3% of Monterey County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate67°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pacific Grove has cool summers (avg high 67°F) and mild winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
67°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
74
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 45°F | 4.35" |
| Feb | 61°F | 45°F | 3.99" |
| Mar | 63°F | 46°F | 3.32" |
| Apr | 63°F | 47°F | 1.48" |
| May | 64°F | 49°F | 0.60" |
| Jun | 66°F | 51°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 67°F | 53°F | 0.05" |
| Aug | 69°F | 54°F | 0.06" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 0.09" |
| Oct | 71°F | 52°F | 0.91" |
| Nov | 64°F | 48°F | 1.80" |
| Dec | 59°F | 44°F | 3.62" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pacific Grove
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Pacific Grove's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Monterey
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove's student/teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 59.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pacific Grove (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 9,453 students · in-state tuition $1,404 · 16% graduate · median earnings $49,016 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Monterey Bay
7.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,819 students · in-state tuition $8,145 · 75% graduate · median earnings $63,891 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,624 students · in-state tuition $1,188 · 17% graduate · median earnings $49,579 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
42 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
83 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
86 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
87 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
88 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
92 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove Public Library
550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove
Cities Near Pacific Grove
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pacific Grove?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pacific Grove FAQ
Is Pacific Grove, California affordable?⌄
Pacific Grove's median rent is $2,455/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $106,065/year. Median home value is $1,190,400.
Is Pacific Grove, California safe?⌄
Pacific Grove's violent crime rate was 108 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 771 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pacific Grove, California?⌄
Monterey County, which includes Pacific Grove, has an unemployment rate of 7.9%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pacific Grove, California?⌄
The cost of living in Pacific Grove is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,455/month and median household income is $106,065/year. The median home value is $1,190,400. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pacific Grove, California?⌄
The average commute in Pacific Grove is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from