Economic Overview | Monterey County Workforce Development Board (2024)

FAQs

What is the largest industry in Monterey County? ›

The largest sector in Monterey County, California is Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, employing 57,593 workers.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average family of four needs to make $114,198 per year to live comfortably in Monterey County, CA. Based on the estimate of having two kids and two adults in the household, here is an average of what you can expect to spend each month: Housing: $1,793. Food: $859.

4. Census Population Estimate for 2020, annual average growth rate since 2010. As of 2022Q3, total employment for Monterey County, California was 207,244 (based on a four-quarter moving average).

Carmel by the Sea

With a median home price of $3,201,098 and a median rent of $2,285, Carmel by the Sea is the most expensive city on our list. Based on the growth in home prices in Carmel by the Sea over the last 3 years, it ranks No. 1 among all the cities in Monterey County.

California Industry Sectors

The state's three largest industry sectors in terms of GDP – finance and insurance; trade, transportation, and utilities; and professional and business services – also provide a foundation to other industry sectors, including manufacturing and information.

Latest figures released by the California Department of Housing and Community Development breakdown what it means to be in the low and moderate income brackets for Central Coast counties. To be considered "low income" in Monterey County, an individual makes less than $67,450.

Poverty & Diversity

12.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Monterey County, CA (51.9k out of 421k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%.

How much does it cost to build a house in Monterey California? ›

It costs $1,350,000 on average to build a home in California. This figure can add up to $1,500,000 if you include land costs, excavations, permits, and other expenses.

How often can the rent be raised? For units protected under AB-1482, the rent can be raised twice in a 12-month period, if the increases do not exceed the rent cap of 5% + CPI, cumulatively. What if my landlord raised the rent above the cap before the bill became effective?

The survey revealed that there are 2,047 homeless individuals in Monterey County – down from 2,422 individuals in 2019. Of those 2,047 individuals, 34% were sheltered.

The county's largest city and county seat is Salinas. Monterey County comprises the Salinas, California, Metropolitan Statistical Area. It borders on the southern part of Monterey Bay, after which it is named. (The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County.)

In 2022, there were 6.88 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (19.4k people) in Monterey, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.82k Other (Hispanic) and 2.32k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups. 19.3% of the people in Monterey, CA are hispanic (5.79k people).

Monterey County's Top 10 Crops in 2023:

Head Lettuce = $493,464,000. Broccoli = $468,871,000. Wine Grapes = $194,642,000. Cauliflower = $188,242,000.

With a population of more than 140,000, the City of Salinas' economy is primarily based on agriculture.

Monterey's old Ocean View Boulevard was once the heart of the area's fishing industry. Canneries and processing plants lined the waterfront lane in the early 1900s, and the district bustled with workers, boats and whistles signaling the start and end of each shift.

What are the Top Crops Produced in Monterey County? Strawberries, Leaf Lettuce, Head Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Spinach, Nursery & Flowers, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, and Livestock & Poultry.