| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | 1 | 158,235 | 163,390 | -0.56% | 6,729 | 24 | City |
| Seaside | 2 | 31,380 | 32,328 | -0.81% | 3,517 | 9 | City |
| Monterey | 3 | 28,623 | 30,193 | -1.14% | 3,311 | 9 | City |
| Soledad | 4 | 26,154 | 26,708 | -0.77% | 5,864 | 4 | City |
| Marina | 5 | 23,399 | 22,366 | 0.61% | 2,626 | 9 | City |
| Greenfield | 6 | 21,633 | 18,963 | 2.34% | 7,276 | 3 | City |
| Pacific Grove | 7 | 14,575 | 15,090 | -0.57% | 5,085 | 3 | City |
| King City | 8 | 14,133 | 13,356 | 0.94% | 3,722 | 4 | City |
| Gonzales | 9 | 8,248 | 8,614 | -0.78% | 4,312 | 2 | City |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 10 | 3,079 | 3,219 | -0.84% | 2,902 | 1 | City |
| Del Rey Oaks | 11 | 1,526 | 1,582 | -0.65% | 1,448 | 1 | City |
| Sand City | 12 | 323 | 324 | 0% | 590 | 1 | City |
Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County, with a population of 158,235.
Sand City is the smallest city in Monterey County, with a population of 323.
There are 12 cities in Monterey County, California.