What is the rental vacancy rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Name: Vacancy rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The rental vacancy rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is 11.7% (±8.4 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

The homeowner vacancy rate is 1.0% (±1.6 points).

1,823 (±178) homes, 53.0% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the rental vacancy rate went from 10.3% in 2015–2019 to 11.7% in 2020–2024 (+1.4 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Rental vacancy rate: 11.7% (±8.4 points)
Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.0% (±1.6 points)
Vacant homes: 1,823 (±178)

Vacancy in Carmel-by-the-Sea against Monterey County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Carmel-by-the-Sea	Monterey County	California	United States
Rental vacancy rate	11.7% (±8.4 points)	2.1% (±0.5 points)	4.2% (±0.1 points)	5.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.0% (±1.6 points)	0.7% (±0.2 points)	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.9%
Vacant housing units	1,823 (±178)	12,980 (±677)	1,096,644 (±18,928)	14,547,859

The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the rental vacancy rate is higher than in Monterey County (2.1%).

It is not measurably different from California (4.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (5.5%).

Rental vacancy rate in places near Carmel-by-the-Sea

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Carmel-by-the-Sea
Place	Distance	Rental vacancy rate	Compared with this place
Carmel-by-the-Sea	—	11.7% (±8.4 points)	—
Del Monte Forest	2.5 mi	11.2% (±16.0 points)	Not measurably different
Monterey	4.0 mi	3.6% (±1.7 points)	Not measurably different
Pacific Grove	4.8 mi	2.1% (±1.7 points)	Lower
Del Rey Oaks	5.7 mi	8.8% (±10.9 points)	Not measurably different
Sand City	6.3 mi	10.4% (±9.0 points)	Not measurably different
Seaside	7.6 mi	2.6% (±1.6 points)	Lower
Carmel Valley Village	11 mi	14.1% (±17.2 points)	Not measurably different
Marina	11 mi	1.8% (±1.4 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Pacific Grove, CA (2.1%), Seaside, CA (2.6%), Marina, CA (1.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Rental vacancy rate across Monterey County, place by place

Rank	Place	Rental vacancy rate
1	Carmel Valley Village	14.1% (±17.2 points)
2	Carmel-by-the-Sea	11.7% (±8.4 points)
3	Del Monte Forest	11.2% (±16.0 points)
4	Sand City	10.4% (±9.0 points)
5	Del Rey Oaks	8.8% (±10.9 points)
6	Monterey	3.6% (±1.7 points)
7	King City	3.1% (±3.7 points)
8	Seaside	2.6% (±1.6 points)

Showing 8 of 21 places in Monterey County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Carmel-by-the-Sea

Is it hard to find a rental in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

The rental vacancy rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is 11.7% (±8.4 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.

Is the rental market in Carmel-by-the-Sea tighter than it was?

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the rental vacancy rate went from 10.3% in 2015–2019 to 11.7% in 2020–2024 (+1.4 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How many homes are vacant in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

An estimated 1,823 (±178) housing units, 53.0% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Carmel-by-the-Sea city, California (place:11250, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.