Population 538 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Carmel Highlands: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Carmel Highlands
Household size in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.01 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.71 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.06 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.29 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Carmel Highlands is a place of small households, averaging 2.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.01, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 64.5 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 63.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 65.7 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 65.7, Carmel Highlands is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Carmel Highlands: 5.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carmel Highlands
Renters in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.7% of households in Carmel Highlands rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly two-thirds of owners (63.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.1% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +14.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.7% of the housing in Carmel Highlands, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −5 | +4 | +6 |
Carmel Highlands is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,965 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $2,001 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,116 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,894 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$929 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Carmel Highlands runs $2,894 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 51.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carmel Highlands
Bachelor's degrees in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 62.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 67.1% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Carmel Highlands: 52.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.9% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Carmel Highlands is close to the national rate: 88.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California as a whole (84.2%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carmel Highlands
| Period | Carmel Highlands | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −12.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Carmel Highlands runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carmel Highlands compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Highlands | 2.30 | 65.7 | 5.9% | 19.7% | 31.7% | 1971 | $2,894 | 52.2% | 88.3% | 3.7% |
| Carmel | 2.34 | 58.6 | 4.7% | 27.9% | 24.9% | 1971 | $2,305 | 64.3% | 96.8% | 3.7% |
| Carmel-By-The-Sea | 1.92 | 67.6 | 8.7% | 38.6% | 51.7% | 1951 | $2,714 | 70.7% | 95.6% | 2.8% |
| Del Monte Forest | 2.03 | 42.8 | 4.2% | 15.5% | 28.7% | 1970 | $3,365 | 62.8% | 97.2% | 2.7% |
| Monterey | 2.16 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 61.5% | 10.8% | 1969 | $2,481 | 52.2% | 93.4% | 7.1% |
| Del Rey Oaks | 2.35 | 49.3 | 2.8% | 29.7% | 9.4% | 1959 | $3,200 | 44.6% | 95.8% | 10.9% |
| Robles Del Rio | 2.46 | 50.8 | 3.6% | 6.2% | 21.9% | 1984 | $1,337 | 69.3% | 98.8% | 0.0% |
| Pacific Grove | 2.10 | 52.0 | 5.3% | 50.0% | 13.2% | 1953 | $2,546 | 59.4% | 94.9% | 6.1% |
| Sand City | 2.59 | 34.5 | 14.2% | 76.6% | 8.4% | 1966 | $2,162 | 25.2% | 67.6% | 1.7% |
| Seaside | 2.96 | 36.3 | 13.5% | 64.6% | 10.3% | 1972 | $2,341 | 32.9% | 81.6% | 5.7% |
| Carmel Valley Village | 2.29 | 55.9 | 6.4% | 16.8% | 9.9% | 1973 | $2,481 | 64.3% | 98.9% | 7.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rader, MO · River Junction, IA · Rivare, IN · Ripplemead, VA · Richmond Mills, NC · Rice Hill, OR · Randolph, TX · Randall, AR · Ralston, OK · Roberts, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carmel Highlands. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.