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Living in
Soledad.
About
Life in Soledad
Soledad is a farm town in the Salinas Valley, and agriculture is still the backbone: about 26% of working residents are in farming and related work, the largest single share. Life here is tied to the growing season, and the numbers reflect it. Unemployment is high at 11.3%, and farm work is seasonal; only about 6% of adults hold a college degree.
Soledad at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.7%
Foreign-Born
30.9%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Soledad: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Soledad, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (85.6%), and 65.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.3%
of residents
65 and Older
6.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
56.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
8.6%
of households
Married Couples
68.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
4.16
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 17% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Soledad
In Soledad, rent runs 17% below the CA average, and home values are 19% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
109.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,798
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $642,113 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 5.8 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Soledad
Unemployment in Soledad is 5.8 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Soledad Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30 min avg
How Soledad residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Soledad, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
Regional airport · few flights326k passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 101 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 27% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Soledad runs 27% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
239.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,131
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Soledad 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 Soledad, 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.
231 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Monterey County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Monterey County, which includes Soledad, 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
Climate84°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Soledad has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
66
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
51
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 38°F | 2.44" |
| Feb | 65°F | 40°F | 2.54" |
| Mar | 70°F | 42°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 74°F | 44°F | 0.83" |
| May | 78°F | 48°F | 0.35" |
| Jun | 83°F | 51°F | 0.04" |
| Jul | 85°F | 54°F | 0.01" |
| Aug | 85°F | 54°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 85°F | 52°F | 0.06" |
| Oct | 80°F | 46°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 70°F | 41°F | 0.98" |
| Dec | 62°F | 37°F | 2.05" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Soledad
Uninsured
11.0%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education22.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Soledad
Soledad's student/teacher ratio is 22.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 6.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
6.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Soledad
Soledad has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pinnacles National Park (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
10 mi awayPublic Libraries in Soledad
Soledad Branch Library
401 Gabilan Dr., Soldedad
Cities Near Soledad
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Soledad?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Soledad FAQ
Is Soledad, California affordable?⌄
Soledad's median rent is $1,698/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $96,862/year. Median home value is $595,900.
Is Soledad, California safe?⌄
Soledad's violent crime rate was 240 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1131 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Soledad, California?⌄
Soledad has an unemployment rate of 11.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Soledad, California?⌄
The cost of living in Soledad is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,698/month and median household income is $96,862/year. The median home value is $595,900. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Soledad, California?⌄
The average commute in Soledad is 30 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