County
Monterey County
- C+Overall Grade
- County in California
- 60 reviews
- Public SchoolsB-
- HousingD-
- NightlifeA-
- Good for FamiliesB-
- DiversityA
- JobsC+
- WeatherA+
- Cost of LivingD-
- Health & FitnessA
- Outdoor ActivitiesA
- CommuteB+
Real Estate
Median Home Value
$477,200
National
$184,700Median Rent
$1,401
National
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Monterey County Rankings
Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.
Crime & Safety
Violent Crimes
- Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
- Assault264.8282.7
- Murder10.96.1
- Rape40.240.7
- Robbery150.8135.5
Property Crimes
- Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
- Burglary476.6500.1
- Theft1,496.62,042.8
- Motor Vehicle Theft501.1284
Residents
Working in Monterey County
Jobs
C+
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$66,676
National
$55,322Monterey County Reviews
60 reviews
All Categories
Overall, living in Monterey County has been incredible because everything is so close together and accessible. Being a military family, it is difficult to find a place to truly settle but Monterey County is more than comfortable. Hospitals, gas stations, restaurants, and the beach are no more than five minutes away from our house. Community College is free for residents and is only three minutes away from our home! I am very satisfied with Monterey County and the people here are so accommodating! The food in this area is incredible and you can get anything from incredible sushi to an amazing grilled steak! Having a family in this area is carefree because it is very safe and we never have to worry. I would definitely recommend others to come to visit the area because it is just absolutely gorgeous and an incredible place to spend your off time.
I love living in Monterey County! I feel that there are so many perks to living in this area with its great restaurants, nearby beaches, and many landmarks. It is one of the best places in California to visit for a family vacation, as there is no shortage of entertainment with unique sights such as whale watching and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. My only gripe is that living here is very expensive and it can be difficult to stay on top of payments at times. Finding cheap housing can be quite a challenge. However, if you can afford to live or just visit the area, you won't be disappointed!
Monterey County has two areas in my opinion, the Coastal area and the Valley area. The Coastal area is the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur. It is safer, people tend to be wealthier, has better quality schools but the house prices are higher. The Valley area consists of the Salinas Valley. It has more crime and the schools I would think are more lower quality. I do not think there is much of nightlife in any part of Monterey County. The County has a good amount of diversity based on race, mainly whites, Latinos/Hispanics, and Asians. Travel time is usually pretty good, however it may be more harder to get around in Salinas, the major city. The environment in the Coastal area is suitable for healthy living, maybe not as much in the Valley area.