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Living in
Malibu.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent and $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above those.
About
Life in Malibu
Malibu is a community of 10,516 people in California. The median household income is $194,421, median rent runs about $3,501 per month, and median home values are around $2,000,001. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.
Malibu at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
53.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
14.7%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
-10.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.7% foreign-born, most often from Iran
Who lives in Malibu: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Malibu, the largest foreign-born group is from Iran (18.7%), and 6.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.0%
of residents
65 and Older
31.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.2%
of households
Married Couples
53.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 72% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Malibu
In Malibu, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
36.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
75.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
31.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $3,171,350 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Malibu and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Los Angeles County, which includes Malibu, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Malibu: Los Angeles County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Los Angeles County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Malibu is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Malibu Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute32.1 min avg
How Malibu residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Malibu, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 42% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M 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 72% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Malibu runs 72% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
567.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,006.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Malibu Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Malibu, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
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.
103 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Malibu is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Malibu, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Malibu is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate68°F summers, 50°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Malibu has cool summers (avg high 68°F) and warm winters (avg low 50°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
68°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/50°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
34
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 50°F | 3.08" |
| Feb | 62°F | 50°F | 3.10" |
| Mar | 62°F | 52°F | 1.74" |
| Apr | 63°F | 53°F | 0.57" |
| May | 63°F | 56°F | 0.23" |
| Jun | 66°F | 59°F | 0.05" |
| Jul | 69°F | 62°F | 0.03" |
| Aug | 70°F | 62°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 70°F | 61°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 68°F | 59°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 67°F | 54°F | 0.81" |
| Dec | 63°F | 50°F | 2.03" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Malibu
Uninsured
0.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Malibu's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills
Acute Care Hospitals · 15 mi away · Woodland Hills
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.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Malibu
Malibu's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 68.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Malibu
Malibu has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
6 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
66 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
85 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Malibu
Malibu Library
23519 West Civic Center Way, Malibu
Cities Near Malibu
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Malibu?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Malibu FAQ
Is Malibu, California affordable?⌄
Malibu's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $194,421/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Malibu, California safe?⌄
Malibu's violent crime rate was 568 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2006 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Malibu, California?⌄
Los Angeles County, which includes Malibu, has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Malibu, California?⌄
The cost of living in Malibu is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $194,421/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Malibu, California?⌄
The average commute in Malibu is 32 minutes, which is longer than 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