12 cities
| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | 1 | 159,478 | 163,393 | -0.41% | 6,782 | 24 | City |
| Seaside | 2 | 31,118 | 32,335 | -0.65% | 3,487 | 9 | City |
| Monterey | 3 | 28,424 | 30,196 | -1.03% | 3,288 | 9 | City |
| Soledad | 4 | 26,171 | 26,692 | -0.33% | 5,868 | 4 | City |
| Marina | 5 | 23,383 | 22,375 | 0.72% | 2,624 | 9 | City |
| Greenfield | 6 | 22,087 | 18,951 | 2.43% | 7,429 | 3 | City |
| Pacific Grove | 7 | 14,732 | 15,089 | -0.4% | 5,140 | 3 | City |
| King City | 8 | 14,203 | 13,354 | 1.01% | 3,741 | 4 | City |
| Gonzales | 9 | 8,333 | 8,627 | -0.58% | 4,356 | 2 | City |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 10 | 3,081 | 3,210 | -0.68% | 2,904 | 1 | City |
| Del Rey Oaks | 11 | 1,538 | 1,582 | -0.45% | 1,459 | 1 | City |
| Sand City | 12 | 329 | 325 | 0.3% | 601 | 1 | City |
Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County, with a population of 159,478.
Sand City is the smallest city in Monterey County, with a population of 329.
There are 12 cities in Monterey County, California.