2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Monterey, CA vs Palm Desert, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Palm Desert, is 21% less than it is in Monterey and is 2% below the National Average.
- Monterey unemployment rate is 3.8%.
- Palm Desert unemployment rate is 6.0%.
 Monterey, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.0%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock2.2%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.1%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes8.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$52,631  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$67,514$69,021
 Family Median Income$115,299  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Monterey, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock11.8%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K2.5%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock8.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K7.9%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock8.0%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K4.0%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock8.3%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.6%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K11.4%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock11.5%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Monterey, CAPalm Desert, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance18.6%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock2.8%6.5%
 Community, social services1.8%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.5%1.2%
 Education, library11.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.4%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology7.0%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement3.5%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock9.6%5.4%
 Building maintenance4.0%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.2%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support14.0%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.2%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair4.2%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock4.7%13.1%
Reviews for Monterey    21 Reviews

Over 8 years ago

The Monterey city area is an excellent place to live and one of the few California locales where it's relatively safe to raise a family. If I could no longer live here I  More

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I grew up on the Monterey Peninsula and had to leave to climb out of poverty. The median income is $35,000 and outside of the military, the jobs are mostly service  More

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My husband and I are just crazy about Monterey. I wonder if we take housing expenses (mortgage or rent) out of the picture, is Monterey still a very expensive city to  More

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Reviews for Palm Desert    14 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Palm Desert, CA is full of rude people. One woman in a long sleeved pink shirt is being extremely rude and mocking people for no reason at a neighborhood Walmart in Palm  More

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Palm Desert is clean, upscale and beautiful. The views of the Santa Rosa Mountains bright blue sky and green expanses of golf course fairways, swimming pools and  More

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I made the mistake of moving here after a short vacation to be closer to family. Biggest mistake of my life! This is not the place to live if health is important to you.  More

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