Salinas, CA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 435,834 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Salinas, CA Metro Area

What is the median household income in Salinas, CA Metro Area?: The median household income in Salinas, CA Metro Area is $94,486 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Salinas, CA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Salinas, CA Metro Area is 9.2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Salinas, CA Metro Area?: $723,100 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Salinas, CA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Salinas, CA Metro Area is $1,995 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Salinas, CA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 27.9% of adults in Salinas, CA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

435,834

Median Income

$94,486

Median Home Value

$723,100

Poverty Rate

9.2%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.1%

Median Age

35.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$23,471 (+33.1%) Home Value: +$206,500 (+40%) Poverty Rate: -0.4 pp (-4.2%) Bachelor's+: +3.2 pp (+13%) Unemployment: +0.2 pp (+4.1%)

Demographics

Total Population 435,834

Median Age 35.0

Female 49.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 61.0% White (non-Hisp.) 27.6% Black 2.2% Asian 5.8% Two or More 13.5% Other 40.7%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Filipino

2.7%

Chinese

0.9%

Indian

0.5%

Japanese

0.5%

Korean

0.4%

Vietnamese

0.3%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

55.8%

Puerto Rican

0.6%

Cuban

0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $94,486 ±$1,879

Per Capita Income $120,153

Median Family Income $100,520

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Child Poverty Rate 13.6%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 8.8%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 22.4%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

3.2%

$10–15k

2.2%

$15–25k

5.0%

$25–35k

5.4%

$35–50k

9.3%

$50–75k

14.2%

$75–100k

13.5%

$100–150k

20.1%

$150–200k

11.1%

$200k+

16.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 144,659

Owner-Occupied 52.3%

Renter-Occupied 47.7%

Vacancy Rate 8.7%

Median Home Value $723,100

Median Gross Rent $1,995

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 28.5%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 45.0%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

2.1%

$50–100k

1.6%

$100–200k

2.0%

$200–300k

2.9%

$300–500k

12.9%

$500k–$1M

51.6%

$1M+

26.1%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

2.9%

$500–1k

6.6%

$1–1.5k

15.4%

$1.5–2k

25.3%

$2–2.5k

25.1%

$2.5–3.5k

10.5%

$3.5k+

14.1%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

4.6%

1 vehicle

27.0%

2 vehicles

37.7%

30.8%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

63.2%

Single-fam. att.

6.5%

2–4 units

2.9%

5–19 units

6.1%

20+ units

6.2%

Mobile home

4.2%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

7.3%

1940–1969

5.6%

1970–1999

18.2%

2000–2009

9.8%

2010+

5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 73.3%

Bachelor's or Higher 27.9%

Graduate Degree 11.4%

Some College / Associate 16.8%

Less Than High School 17.4%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 60.5%

Unemployment Rate 5.1%

Work from Home 9.1%

Self-Employed 7.5%

Government Workers 16.4%

Private For-Profit 75.7%

Industry

Edu/Health

21.2%

Agriculture

14.5%

Arts/Entmt.

11.0%

Prof. Services

10.4%

Retail

9.5%

Construction

7.6%

Public Admin

5.5%

Manufacturing

5.0%

Transportation

3.8%

Finance

3.6%

Wholesale

2.3%

Information

1.3%

Occupation

Management

32.7%

Food Prep

19.7%

Construction

18.7%

Sales

17.8%

Production

11.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 25.4 min

Drove Alone 70.0%

Carpool 10.1%

Public Transit 1.3%

Work from Home 9.1%

Walked 2.9%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 132,046

Avg. Household Size 3.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 51.5%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 21.5%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.6%

5–9

7.2%

10–14

7.6%

15–19

7.6%

20–24

6.9%

25–34

13.6%

35–44

13.2%

45–54

11.7%

55–64

5.6%

65–74

5.4%

75–84

8.6%

85+

3.9%

Under 18: 26.0% Working age (18–64): 74.0% 65 and over: 14.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 28.8%

Naturalized Citizen 30.4%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 24.8%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

82.0%

Asia

11.8%

Europe

4.3%

Africa

0.5%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 4.5%

With a Disability 9.4%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 90.1%

Uninsured 9.9%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 93.1%

Has a Computer 97.1%

Same House 1 Year Ago 88.8%

Moved from Abroad 0.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023