Median Age
62 Years
Largest Age Group
70-79 Years
Approximately 20% of Residents
Under 20
13%
Over 65
45%
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,514
Population
1,265
Renter Mix
32% Rent
A fairytale-like town along the coast
Coastal
•
Quirky
•
Artistic
You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook when exploring Carmel by the Sea. Located along the central coast of California, along the Carmel Bay, Carmel by the Sea is a scenic beach town with a whimsical, one-of-kind locale with fairytale-like architecture. Cottages with rolled eaves and modern homes with rounded doors dominate the town. Staying true to its village-like uniqueness, there are no street addresses, mailboxes, parking meters, streetlights, or chain restaurants in Carmel. And just when you thought this place couldn’t get any quirkier, Clint Eastwood was once mayor and you also need a permit to wear high heels here! Despite feeling like you’ve stepped into an old European-style village, Carmel offers an abundance of modern amenities.
With an enviable climate, you’ll find residents taking in some sun year-round at Carmel Beach. The fun goes beyond Carmel’s beautiful white sand beaches as well. This bayside town has a dynamic downtown district filled with award-winning restaurants, wine tasting rooms, cozy cafes, bohemian boutiques, and more. Since the town was founded by writers and artists, you’ll also notice a vibrant arts scene in the downtown area as well as throughout Carmel. Art galleries and studios dominate downtown while impressive theaters and entertainment venues like Sunset Center and PacRep at the Forest Theater are scattered throughout the town. By far, Carmel by the Sea is nothing like your usual beach town — now it’s up to you to discover your dream home today!
Demographics
Median Household Income
$164,967
Average: $177,880
Education
826
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
618
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Carmel-By-The-Sea has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
32%
Non-Renters
68%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
59%
Other Education
41%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is $1,514 for one bedroom, and $2,631 for two bedrooms. Apartment rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,514/month
583 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
451 Students
Carmel River Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
400 Students
Carmel Child Development Center
Public
Grades K-5
27 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
468 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
468 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
780 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
780 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
10 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Carmel River State Beach
- Point Lobos State Reserve
- Monterey County Youth Museum
- Monterey State Historic Park
- Jack's Peak County Park
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Monterey Regional
Top Apartments in Carmel-by-the-Sea
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.