Where do the retail folks live? (Palo Alto, Bell: real estate, apartment, rent)

[Lake Conroe resident]

I have a question for all the Monterey, Carmel area residents. Where do all the people who work in retail live?? I usually take a trip to the Monterey Bay/Carmel area at least once a year and I see Wal Mart's, Taco Bell's, McDonald's, Target etc as well as the $300 a night hotels I have to stay in... I was wondering where all the people live who work in these establishments, I mean there's no way they can live anywhere near these places as the Real Estate is way too high. With gas being over $4 now how far can one travel for one of these jobs? Do they pay them double to work in these locations or do they have some kind of rent controlled area to live in? I guess some of the people who work in retail would best be able to answer this..

[EscapeCalifornia]

People who don't make a lot of money have as many roommates as it takes to cover the rent. That, and they live with family well into their 30's or beyond. That's true anywhere but especially true in high-cost places like coastal California.

[sonarrat]

Oftentimes they live two families to an apartment in a poor town like East Palo Alto, or they share trailers. If they're making a little bit above minimum wage, like my first job, they can rent out a room in someone's house for $700 or so.