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Demographic Analysis of Monterey, California: White Majority with Increasing Diversity
CATEGORY
Demographics
DATA
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Loading Content...
Demographics
Population
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Monterey, California, exhibits demographic stability with subtle changes over the past decade. As of 2022, the city is categorized as "Low Diversity" with a White Majority, as the white population constitutes 65% of the total. The city's economic status is relatively affluent, with a median income of $96,463 in 2022, exceeding the national average.
Monterey has maintained its "Low Diversity" status throughout the analyzed period, but shows signs of a gradual transition towards increased diversity. The white population decreased from 68% in 2013 to 65% in 2022. The Hispanic population increased from 16% in 2013 to 19% in 2022. Asian and Black populations remained relatively stable, with slight increases. The population identifying as two or more races increased from 3% in 2013 to 4% in 2022. These shifts indicate that Monterey is slowly moving towards a "Transitional Community" status, with increasing representation from Hispanic and multiracial groups.
The city has experienced significant economic growth over the past decade. Median income increased from $86,050 in 2013 to $96,463 in 2022, a 12% rise. Peak median income was reached in 2021 at $106,161. Population grew from 30,557 in 2013 to 32,328 in 2022, a 5.8% increase. The economic growth appears to coincide with the gradual increase in diversity, suggesting that the city's increasing attractiveness to diverse populations may be linked to its economic opportunities.
Monterey's trends align with broader California patterns of increasing diversity and rising incomes in coastal urban areas. However, Monterey's changes are more gradual compared to rapid demographic shifts seen in some other California cities.
Based on the observed trends, Monterey is likely to continue its gradual transition towards greater diversity over the next decade. The white majority will likely continue to decrease slowly, potentially dropping below 60% within the next 10 years. The Hispanic population may approach or exceed 20%. Asian and multiracial populations are likely to see modest increases. Economically, barring major disruptions, the city is poised to maintain its affluent status, with median incomes likely continuing to rise, albeit potentially at a slower rate than the past decade.
Monterey represents a case of gradual demographic evolution within a stable, affluent economic framework. While still categorized as "Low Diversity" with a White Majority, the city shows clear signs of transitioning towards a more diverse community composition, which may eventually lead to its reclassification as a "Transitional Community" or even "Moderate Diversity" in the longer term.
