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CA area data

Salinas, CA

Aggregated across 4 ZIP codes in Salinas.

Population: 170,271 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Salinas, CA is $838,336 — up 1.1% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $663,000 after a median 30 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,936/month. 54 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with drought, earthquake, inlandflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$838,336

Median home value

+1.1%

1-year change

30

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$838,336
1-year appreciation
+1.1%
3-year appreciation
+7.3%
5-year appreciation
+17.5%
10-year appreciation
+76.7%
All-time peak (2025-01)
$842,456
House Price Index (state)
417.4 (-0.8% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$663,000
Median list price
$671,097
Median price per sqft
$461
1-year sale-price change
+5.8%
Median days on market
30 days
Homes sold (recent period)
28
For-sale inventory
152
Sale-to-list ratio
99.0%
Active listings
18
1-year forecast
+0.2%
Days to pending
22 days
New listings (monthly)
57

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,936/mo
1-year rent change
+5.7%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,495/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,869/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,330/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,029/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,495/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
113.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
54
Elementary schools
31
Middle schools
8
High schools
11
Charter schools
2
School districts serving the area
Open Door Charter District, Salinas City Elementary, Salinas Union High
Schools include
Open Door Charter, Mission Park Elementary, Monterey Park Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, University Park Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
drought, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, wildfire
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · drought: Very High · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
includes C
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 99% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
29.5%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Crazy Horse Sanitary Landfill (5.6 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
63.5°F
Average high
71.0°F
Average low
56.0°F
Annual precipitation
25.5 in
Annual snowfall
0.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
9b (extreme annual low 25 to 30°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
42
Days with Good air quality
274
Days with Moderate air quality
90
Highest AQI recorded (year)
115

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
13.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
469
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
25,995
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
25,997

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
4
Nearest national park
Pinnacles National Park (26 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
46
Nearest airport
Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS) (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Salinas Municipal Airport (SNS) (1 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
2
Hospitals include
SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA, WATSONVILLE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.1 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.3 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-2,526 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,976
Housing built before 1970
37.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
12.9%
Median annual property tax
$5,205
Mean commute to work
25 min
Households with broadband internet
71.8%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
162,831
Average weekly wage
$1,047
Top industries (by employment)
Agriculture, Accommodation & Food, Health Care
Annual residential building permits (county)
512

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

SalinasState medianUS median
Median home value$838,336$702,573$289,727
Median sale price$663,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market30 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$2,936/mo$2,767/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$5,205$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Salinas, CA?
$838,336.
What is the median sale price in Salinas, CA?
$663,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Salinas, CA?
Median days on market: 30 days.
What is typical rent in Salinas, CA?
Typical rent: $2,936/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Salinas, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, wildfire.
Is Salinas, CA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone C; zones vary by location within the city.
What is the wildfire risk in Salinas, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 99% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Salinas, CA?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Salinas, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Salinas, CA?
54 schools (31 elementary, 8 middle, 11 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Salinas, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 13.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Salinas, CA?
Good. Median AQI: 42. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Salinas, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Salinas

Selling a home in Salinas, CA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents