Salinas, CA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 161,993 · California · Updated May 2026
Population
161,993
Median Income
$89,150
Home Price
$751,711
Unemployment
4.7%
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Bachelor's+
15.5%
Full Demographics — Salinas, CA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 161,993 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 36.3% | 13.8% | |
| White | 21.8% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 1.4% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 5.7% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 80.3% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $89,150 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $28,813 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 14.2% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 15.5% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $751,711 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.8% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 18.2% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 22.4% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.8% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.9% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 57.3°F | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 15.5 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Salinas, CA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.8 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Salinas with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Salinas, CA
Salinas is a city in California, United States. With a population of 161,993, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Salinas shows stronger household income ($89,150 median HH income vs $74,580 median HH income US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 15.5% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.