Seaside named the number one fastest-growing small city in California thanks to CSUMB.

Seaside grew by 5.7 percent in 2024, making it the fastest-growing city over 30,000 residents, according to the California Department of Finance in its annual population report released Thursday, May 1.

The growth spurt was attributed in part to a 3.3-percent increase in the student population at CSU Monterey Bay. Seaside grew from 30,299 residents on Jan. 1, 2024 to 32,019 residents by Jan. 1, 2025.

Overall, Monterey County grew by .5 percent in 2024, down from .8 percent the previous year, according to the report. California grew by .28 percent, adding 108,000 people. The state's total population topped 39.5 million. 

It was the second consecutive year of positive growth for the state since the Covid-19 pandemic. More people were born than died and there was more legal immigration than previous periods.

Half of the cities in Monterey County slightly shrunk in population. Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Salinas and Sand City saw dips of .02 or .03 percent. Pacific Grove shrunk by .04 percent. The unincorporated areas of the county also contracted by .02 percent.

The county's growth came from Seaside's jump, along with Greenfield (1.2), King City (1.1), Marina (1.1), Monterey (.05) and Soledad (1.8 percent). 

The report also tracks housing estimates, and while housing in the state grew overall by .84 percent, Monterey County saw only .4 percent growth. Soledad saw a 2.3 percent growth rate in housing. Greenfield and King City each saw a 1.6 percent increase, with Marina seeing a 1.5 percent increase.

Other cities were nearly at zero, with P.G., Sand City and Seaside at zero housing growth.

California added a net 125,228 units, including 26,648 accessory dwelling units. The total housing stock now stands at 14,949,001 units. 

New construction added 118,957 housing units, with 70,694 single-family units, 53,543 multi-family units and 991 mobile homes.

ADUs are included in the single-family category, comprising 37.7 percent of the state's new single-family units and 21.3 percent of total new housing.