Population 3,881 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Carmel Valley
Household size in Carmel Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Carmel Valley run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children.
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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.5 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Carmel Valley skews older: half of its residents are older than 54.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 49.1 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Carmel Valley: 6.5% 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 Valley
Renters in Carmel Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.8% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.8% of households in Carmel Valley rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About four in ten owners (39.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.2% of the housing in Carmel Valley, 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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Carmel Valley is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1972, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,108 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,593 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,710 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,063 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$955 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Carmel Valley costs $2,063 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California as a whole ($2,229). Rent takes 27.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Carmel Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.9% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.5% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.7% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Carmel Valley: 58.7% 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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.1% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Carmel Valley: 95.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Valley
| Period | Carmel Valley | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.3%, unemployment in Carmel Valley is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California overall (6.6%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 Valley 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 Valley | 2.41 | 54.6 | 6.5% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 1972 | $2,063 | 58.7% | 95.1% | 5.3% |
| Carmel Valley Village | 2.29 | 55.9 | 6.4% | 16.8% | 9.9% | 1973 | $2,481 | 64.3% | 98.9% | 7.7% |
| Robles Del Rio | 2.46 | 50.8 | 3.6% | 6.2% | 21.9% | 1984 | $1,337 | 69.3% | 98.8% | 0.0% |
| Tassajara Hot Springs | 2.62 | 52.3 | 2.6% | 25.5% | 14.0% | 1985 | $1,146 | 17.5% | 82.6% | 14.9% |
| Spreckels | 2.59 | 46.1 | 9.1% | 22.4% | 7.4% | 1981 | $1,930 | 48.6% | 83.5% | 5.2% |
| Carmel | 2.34 | 58.6 | 4.7% | 27.9% | 24.9% | 1971 | $2,305 | 64.3% | 96.8% | 3.7% |
| Carmel Highlands | 2.30 | 65.7 | 5.9% | 19.7% | 31.7% | 1971 | $2,894 | 52.2% | 88.3% | 3.7% |
| Del Rey Oaks | 2.35 | 49.3 | 2.8% | 29.7% | 9.4% | 1959 | $3,200 | 44.6% | 95.8% | 10.9% |
| Monterey | 2.16 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 61.5% | 10.8% | 1969 | $2,481 | 52.2% | 93.4% | 7.1% |
| Carmel-By-The-Sea | 1.92 | 67.6 | 8.7% | 38.6% | 51.7% | 1951 | $2,714 | 70.7% | 95.6% | 2.8% |
| Jamesburg | 2.50 | 45.0 | 10.4% | 39.7% | 10.6% | 1970 | $1,124 | 23.5% | 85.8% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lansford, PA · Williamsburg, IA · Decatur, MI · Leonardo, NJ · Winterport, ME · Lake Mathews, CA · Decatur, MS · Santee, SC · Sardinia, OH · Burbank, WA
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 Valley. 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.
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