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Living in
Morro Bay.
About
Life in Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a community of 10,717 people in California. The median household income is $95,843, median rent runs about $1,858 per month, and median home values are around $918,200. Unemployment is low at 4.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Morro Bay at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
54.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
6.1%
Broadband Internet
94.6%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Morro Bay: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Morro Bay, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (33.0%), and 6.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
12.0%
of residents
65 and Older
32.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
16.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.1%
of households
Married Couples
48.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.06
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 9% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Morro Bay
In Morro Bay, rent runs 9% below the CA average, and home values are 25% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,999
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
21.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $935,118 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Morro Bay
Unemployment in San Luis Obispo County, which includes Morro Bay, is 1.1 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Morro Bay: San Luis Obispo County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Luis Obispo County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Morro Bay is about 4% of San Luis Obispo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Morro Bay Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.7 min avg
How Morro Bay residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Morro Bay, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP)
Regional airport · few flights399k 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 40% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Morro Bay runs 40% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
199.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,033.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Morro Bay Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Luis Obispo County, which includes Morro Bay, the most common type is high wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Wildfire | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 2 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 1 | Flash Flood | 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.
101 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Morro Bay is about 4% of San Luis Obispo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Luis Obispo County, which includes Morro Bay, is typically good — 191 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
191
per year
Moderate Days
167
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Morro Bay is about 4% of San Luis Obispo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate68°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Morro Bay has cool summers (avg high 68°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
68°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
42
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 46°F | 3.64" |
| Feb | 65°F | 48°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 66°F | 49°F | 3.19" |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 0.99" |
| May | 67°F | 52°F | 0.42" |
| Jun | 66°F | 54°F | 0.20" |
| Jul | 67°F | 57°F | 0.07" |
| Aug | 70°F | 57°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 72°F | 56°F | 0.09" |
| Oct | 73°F | 54°F | 0.68" |
| Nov | 69°F | 50°F | 1.33" |
| Dec | 65°F | 46°F | 2.75" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Morro Bay
Uninsured
2.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Morro Bay's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · San Luis Obispo
French Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · San Luis Obispo
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.
Education18.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Morro Bay
Morro Bay's student/teacher ratio is 18.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 48.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Morro Bay (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 1,116 students · 39% graduate · median earnings $40,324 (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: Pinnacles National Park, 80 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Morro Bay
Morro Bay has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pinnacles National Park (80 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Morro Bay
Morro Bay Library
625 Harbor St., Morro Bay
Cities Near Morro Bay
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Morro Bay?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Morro Bay FAQ
Is Morro Bay, California affordable?⌄
Morro Bay's median rent is $1,858/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $95,843/year. Median home value is $918,200.
Is Morro Bay, California safe?⌄
Morro Bay's violent crime rate was 199 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1033 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Morro Bay, California?⌄
San Luis Obispo County, which includes Morro Bay, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Morro Bay, California?⌄
The cost of living in Morro Bay is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,858/month and median household income is $95,843/year. The median home value is $918,200. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Morro Bay, California?⌄
The average commute in Morro Bay is 20 minutes, which is shorter 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