Amesti is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 2,637 as of the 2020 United States census.

Amesti is named for José Amesti, a Basque who came to California in 1822, and who was the grantee of Rancho Los Corralitos.

Amesti is located at 36°57′33″N 121°46′56″W / 36.95917°N 121.78222°W / 36.95917; -121.78222 (36.959210, -121.782131).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.8 km) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km) of it (2.10%) is water.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	2,637		—
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

At the 2010 census Amesti had a population of 3,478. The population density was 1,138.2 inhabitants per square mile (439.5/km). The racial makeup of Amesti was 1,889 (54.3%) White, 12 (0.3%) African American, 41 (1.2%) Native American, 89 (2.6%) Asian, 1,309 (37.6%) from other races, and 137 (3.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,273 persons (65.4%).

The census reported that 99.6% of the population lived in households and 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 982 households, 509 (51.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 576 (58.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 158 (16.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 56 (5.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 68 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 12 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 143 households (14.6%) were one person and 71 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.53. There were 790 families (80.4% of households); the average family size was 3.83.

The age distribution was 1,100 people (31.6%) under the age of 18, 343 people (9.9%) aged 18 to 24, 895 people (25.7%) aged 25 to 44, 805 people (23.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 335 people (9.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 31.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

There were 1,015 housing units at an average density of 332.2 per square mile (128.3/km), of which 61.5% were owner-occupied and 38.5% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.3%. 56.6% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 42.9% lived in rental housing units.

At the 2000 census there were 2,436 people, 760 households, and 589 families in the CDP. The population density was 833.0 inhabitants per square mile (321.6/km). There were 781 housing units at an average density of 267.1 per square mile (103.1/km). The racial makeup of the CDP in 2010 was 30.6% non-Hispanic White, 0.3% non-Hispanic African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.2% Asian, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 65.4%.

Of the 760 households 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.5% of households were one person and 8.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.56.

The age distribution was 30.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median household income was $45,558 and the median family income was $48,036. Males had a median income of $43,800 versus $30,223 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,422. About 14.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

In the California State Legislature, Amesti is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat John Laird, and in the 30th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Dawn Addis.

In the United States House of Representatives, Amesti is in California's 20th congressional district, represented by Republican Vince Fong.