Carmel is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of California. With a population of 11,208 people and four associated neighborhoods, Carmel is the 400th largest community in California.

Carmel home prices are not only among the most expensive in California, but Carmel real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America.

Of important note, Carmel is also a town of artists. Carmel has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Carmel’s character.

A relatively large number of people in Carmel telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 25.15% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

In addition, Carmel is home to many people who could be described as "urban sophisticates", which are people who are not only wealthy and employed in professional occupations, but highly educated to boot. Urban sophisticates have urbane tastes - whether they reside in a big or small city, a suburb, or a little town. Urban sophisticates support bookstores, quality clothing stores, enjoy luxury travel, and in big cities, they are truly the patrons of the arts, attending and supporting institutions such as opera, symphony, ballet, and theatre.

Carmel is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Carmel’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Carmel is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Quite often, nautical areas such as these attract visitors and locals who come to enjoy the scenery and various waterfront activities.

As is often the case in a small town, Carmel doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.

Do you have a 4-year college degree or graduate degree? If so, you may feel right at home in Carmel. 63.50% of adults here have a 4-year degree or graduate degree, whereas the national average for all cities and towns is just 21.84%.

The per capita income in Carmel in 2022 was $92,198, which is wealthy relative to California and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $368,792 for a family of four.

Carmel is a very ethnically-diverse town. The people who call Carmel home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Carmel residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Carmel also has a sizeable Hispanic population (people of Hispanic origin can be of any race). People of Hispanic or Latino origin account for 10.66% of the town’s residents. Important ancestries of people in Carmel include English, German, Irish, Italian, and European.

The most common language spoken in Carmel is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and French.