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Living in
Half Moon Bay.
About
Life in Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a community of 11,454 people in California. The median household income is $157,884, median rent runs about $2,433 per month, and median home values are around $1,550,000. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Half Moon Bay at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Foreign-Born
21.6%
Broadband Internet
95.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Half Moon Bay: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Half Moon Bay, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.1%), and 24.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.4%
of households
Married Couples
52.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.80
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Half Moon Bay
In Half Moon Bay, rent runs 19% above the CA average, and home values are 111% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
71.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,547,671 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Half Moon Bay and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Mateo County, which includes Half Moon Bay, is 1.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Half Moon Bay: San Mateo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Mateo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Half Moon Bay is about 2% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Half Moon Bay Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area
Commute29.3 min avg
How Half Moon Bay residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Half Moon Bay, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, which covers Half Moon Bay, runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,075
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by San Mateo County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Mateo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Mateo County, which includes Half Moon Bay, the most common type is strong wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Flood | $10 |
| 2024 | 14 | Flood | $30 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 25 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 42 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
286 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Half Moon Bay is about 2% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality27 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in San Mateo County, which includes Half Moon Bay, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
27
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Half Moon Bay is about 2% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate65°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Half Moon Bay has cool summers (avg high 65°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
65°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
26.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
5
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 5.07" |
| Feb | 60°F | 43°F | 4.73" |
| Mar | 60°F | 44°F | 3.67" |
| Apr | 61°F | 45°F | 1.81" |
| May | 62°F | 48°F | 0.96" |
| Jun | 64°F | 50°F | 0.36" |
| Jul | 65°F | 53°F | 0.14" |
| Aug | 66°F | 54°F | 0.23" |
| Sep | 66°F | 51°F | 0.21" |
| Oct | 66°F | 48°F | 1.26" |
| Nov | 63°F | 45°F | 2.43" |
| Dec | 59°F | 43°F | 5.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Half Moon Bay
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Half Moon Bay's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
San Mateo Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · San Mateo
Peninsula Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Burlingame
Sequoia Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.1 mi away · Redwood City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education21.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay's student/teacher ratio is 21.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Half Moon Bay (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,977 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 30% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,620 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 27% graduate · median earnings $62,578 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Presidio of San Francisco, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Presidio of San Francisco (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Presidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
23 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
25 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
28 mi awayMuir Woods National Monument
National Monument
31 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
31 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayPublic Libraries in Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay Library
225 Cabrillo Highway South #104b, Half Moon Bay
Cities Near Half Moon Bay
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Half Moon Bay?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Half Moon Bay FAQ
Is Half Moon Bay, California affordable?⌄
Half Moon Bay's median rent is $2,433/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $157,884/year. Median home value is $1,549,500.
Is Half Moon Bay, California safe?⌄
Half Moon Bay is policed by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 181 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1075 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Half Moon Bay, California?⌄
San Mateo County, which includes Half Moon Bay, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Half Moon Bay, California?⌄
The cost of living in Half Moon Bay is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,433/month and median household income is $157,884/year. The median home value is $1,549,500. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Half Moon Bay, California?⌄
The average commute in Half Moon Bay is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from