What it's like to live in Monterey
Monterey is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Monterey deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Monterey compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Monterey
Based on Monterey's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,706
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $94,120 a year
- 55% of Monterey renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$215,260
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $107,630
- Homes cost 10.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 67% above US
$2,353/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,353 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,076,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,076,300 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
348 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1365/100k · Monterey Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 67°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 45°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 47% above US
53% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pinnacles National Park (40 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Monterey's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,353/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Monterey
All California guides →Not sure Monterey is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.