City · 31,814 residents · Monterey County, California
Seaside, California
In Seaside, a typical home is worth $787,100 and typical rent is $2,409 a month. Compared with all of Monterey County, typical rent is 17% higher, typical household income is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $699,525 to $782,839.
Typical rent
$2,938a month
▲ 4.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2022 to September 2026: from $2,398 to $2,938.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Seaside is in Monterey County. The FHA loan limit ($994,750 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Monterey County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Seaside has the 23rd lowest homeownership rate of the 652 cities in California with more than 5,000 people (35%).
2
Nearby, in Castroville, the typical home value is $617,100: 22% less than in Seaside ($787,100).
3
Nearby, in Castroville, the typical rent is $1,948: 19% less than in Seaside ($2,409).
4
The typical rent in Seaside is $2,409 a month, 17% more than in Monterey County as a whole ($2,055).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Seaside
What homes there are in Seaside, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Kind of home: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Detached house
60%
63%
57%
61%
Attached house
12%
7%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
11%
9%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
14%
18%
24%
19%
Mobile home
3%
4%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Monterey County, most homes in Seaside are detached houses (60%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Year built: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Before 1960
32%
26%
27%
26%
1960–1979
38%
33%
29%
24%
1980–1999
15%
25%
25%
25%
2000–2009
11%
10%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
6%
8%
11%
The typical home in Seaside was built in 1968, 8 years before the typical one in Monterey County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K6%
$500K–$750K34%
$750K–$1M37%
$1M or more18%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
6%
$500K–$750K
34%
$750K–$1M
37%
$1M or more
18%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49912%
$1,500–$1,99918%
$2,000–$2,49921%
$2,500–$2,99921%
$3,000 or more25%
Monthly rent with utilities: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
12%
$1,500–$1,999
18%
$2,000–$2,499
21%
$2,500–$2,999
21%
$3,000 or more
25%
With a mortgage
$2,526 a month
Monterey County: $2,832 a month
Without a mortgage
$565 a month
Monterey County: $785 a month
Owners with a mortgage
70%
Monterey County: 63%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Seaside is $2,526 a month, less than in Monterey County ($2,832); without one, $565.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Seaside+61%
Monterey County+51%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Seaside+35%
Monterey County+38%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Seaside+34%
Monterey County+37%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Typical home value
+61%
+51%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+35%
+38%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+34%
+37%
+32%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Seaside gained value faster than in Monterey County: 61% against 51%.
Rents in Seaside rose at about the same pace as in Monterey County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 38%.
To compare: typical income in Seaside rose 34%; the home, +61%; the rent, +35%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Seaside and its comparisons
Measure
Seaside
Monterey County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.1%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
9.4%
15.0%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.91
3.16
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
73%
70%
66%
69%
Carpool
11%
10%
10%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
5%
3%
3%
3%
Work from home
8%
10%
17%
15%
Other means
2%
6%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer households are short on space in Seaside: 9.4% have more than one person per room; in Monterey County, 15.0%.
Households in Seaside are smaller: 2.91 people on average; in Monterey County, 3.16.
In Seaside, 73% of workers drive alone to work; in Monterey County, 70%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Seaside?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Seaside, worth $787,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 88% of the typical household income in Seaside, which is $85,311 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $267,691 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Monterey County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Seaside. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $27,549 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$6,246
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$772,843
Total interest
$1,111,940
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $13,292 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,991 a month
Tight
$1,991 to $2,559 a month
Hard
more than $2,559 a month
Your payment · 88%
Compared with the typical household income in Seaside ($85,311 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$5,236
Property tax
$335
Home insurance
$328
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$348
You need at least $27,549 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $6,246; principal and interest $5,236.
The city and its county
Seaside and Monterey County
Seaside is in Monterey County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Seaside
Map of Monterey County, California, with Seaside marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Seaside
Monterey County
Other cities with a page
Seaside's own numbers
Typical home value
$787,100
Typical monthly rent
$2,409
Typical yearly household income
$85,311
Households that own their home
35%
Effective property tax rate
0.51%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Monterey County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$994,750
Conventional limit, one unit
$994,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,416
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.8%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Monterey County.
A typical home in Seaside is worth $787,100: about the same as the county and 7% above California. With the typical household income in Seaside ($85,311 a year), a typical home costs 9.2 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Seaside9.2 years
Monterey8.0 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Monterey County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Monterey County rose 94% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Monterey County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Monterey County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +9.9% +9.9% 2016
2017: +7.0% +7.0% 2017
2018: +5.9% +5.9% 2018
2019: +4.9% +4.9% 2019
2020: +3.2% +3.2% 2020
2021: +13.5% +13.5% 2021
2022: +14.8% +14.8% 2022
2023: +3.3% +3.3% 2023
2024: +5.6% +5.6% 2024
2025: +1.3% +1.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Monterey County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+1.3%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+44%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+94%
+80%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Seaside next to Monterey County, California and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Seaside$787,100
Monterey$781,000
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Seaside$2,409
Monterey$2,055
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Seaside$85,311
Monterey$97,230
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Seaside next to Monterey County and California
Measure
Seaside
Monterey County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$787,100
$781,000
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,409 ▲17% above the county
$2,055
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$85,311 ▼12% below the county
$97,230
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
35% ▼17 points below the county
52%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,012 ▼18% below the county
$4,910
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.51% ▼0.12 points below the county
0.63%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
65% ▲10 points above the county
56%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Monterey County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Seaside
For a typical $787,100 home in Seaside, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Seaside's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$6,246a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$27,549
Cash to close
$51,162
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $348
Conventional, 5% down$6,102a month
Down payment
$39,355
Cash to close
$62,968
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $374
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$4,928a month
Down payment
$157,420
Cash to close
$181,033
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$5,656a month
Down payment
$118,065
Cash to close
$141,678
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Seaside
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$6,246
$27,549
$772,844
7.18%
FHA MIP · $348
$51,162
580
Conventional, 5% down
$6,102
$39,355
$747,745
7.18%
PMI · $374
$62,968
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$4,928
$157,420
$629,680
7.18%
None
$181,033
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$5,656
$118,065
$669,035
8.18%
None
$141,678
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Seaside is $2,409 a month: 17% above the county. In Seaside, 65% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Monterey County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,416 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $46.46 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Monterey County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,956
$37.62
$78,240
1 bedroom
$2,009
$38.63
$80,360
2 bedrooms
$2,416
$46.46
$96,640
3 bedrooms
$3,261
$62.71
$130,440
4 bedrooms
$3,551
$68.29
$142,040
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Seaside
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Seaside is in ZIP code 93955.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,550: $134 more than the fair market rent for Monterey County ($2,416).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Seaside, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
93955
$2,070
$2,120
$2,550
$3,440
$3,750
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
93955 $2,550$3,440
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Seaside when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Monterey County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Seaside or Monterey County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Seaside the same as in the rest of the state.
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional).Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Seaside or Monterey County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Seaside and all of Monterey County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Seaside?
The typical home value in Seaside is $787,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Monterey County it is $781,000.
How much does it cost to rent in Seaside?
Typical rent in Seaside is $2,409 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Monterey County is $2,416.
What is the FHA loan limit in Seaside?
Seaside uses the FHA limit for all of Monterey County (2026): $994,750 for a one-unit home and $1,913,000 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Seaside?
The typical homeowner in Seaside pays $4,012 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.51% of the home’s value; in Monterey County, the rate is 0.63%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Seaside?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Monterey County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
