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Living in
Rancho Palos Verdes.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Rancho Palos Verdes
If you're seriously considering moving here, understand upfront that Rancho Palos Verdes is fundamentally a wealthy enclave where housing costs are among the highest in the region—median homes exceed $1.5 million and you'll pay $3,500+ monthly for rent. The trade-off is genuine: excellent schools through the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, a mature community with a median age of 50 that skews toward families and established professionals, and direct access to coastal trails and the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. The area has real character with its dramatic clifftop setting and abundant outdoor recreation, though you should know the peninsula experiences ongoing geological movement issues—Wayfarers Chapel, a historic landmark, is being relocated due to land instability.
Rancho Palos Verdes at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
49.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
28.3%
Broadband Internet
96.8%
of households
Population Growth
-6.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics28.3% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Rancho Palos Verdes: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rancho Palos Verdes, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (13.7%), and 8.2% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
26.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.9%
of households
Married Couples
67.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 Rancho Palos Verdes
In Rancho Palos Verdes, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 119% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
80.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,789,699 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Rancho Palos Verdes and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Rancho Palos Verdes is 0.5 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Rancho Palos Verdes 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
Commute32.8 min avg
How Rancho Palos Verdes residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rancho Palos Verdes, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR)
Regional airport · few flights6,315 passengers boarded in 2025
- 14 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 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rancho Palos Verdes runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
123.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
798.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, 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.
115 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Rancho Palos Verdes 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, 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
Rancho Palos Verdes is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate76°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rancho Palos Verdes has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
28
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 47°F | 3.36" |
| Feb | 66°F | 48°F | 3.66" |
| Mar | 68°F | 50°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 70°F | 52°F | 0.63" |
| May | 72°F | 55°F | 0.26" |
| Jun | 74°F | 59°F | 0.07" |
| Jul | 77°F | 62°F | 0.06" |
| Aug | 78°F | 62°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 78°F | 61°F | 0.09" |
| Oct | 76°F | 57°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 71°F | 51°F | 0.80" |
| Dec | 66°F | 46°F | 2.24" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rancho Palos Verdes
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rancho Palos Verdes's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Little Co of Mary Med Ctr San Pedro
Acute Care Hospitals · 5 mi away · San Pedro
Del Amo Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 6 mi away · Torrance
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Torrance
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.
Education22.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 70.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rancho Palos Verdes (within 15 miles)
California State University-Dominguez Hills
12 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,538 students · in-state tuition $7,853 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,587 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,694 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 23% graduate · median earnings $47,368 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,142 students · in-state tuition $1,142 · 19% graduate · median earnings $41,664 (10 yrs after entry)
American University of Health Sciences
13.4 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 351 students · in-state tuition $24,800 · 78% graduate · median earnings $113,922 (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: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
33 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
68 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
89 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rancho Palos Verdes
Miraleste Library
29089 Palos Verdes Dr. E., Rancho Palos Verdes
Cities Near Rancho Palos Verdes
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rancho Palos Verdes?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rancho Palos Verdes FAQ
Is Rancho Palos Verdes, California affordable?⌄
Rancho Palos Verdes's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $179,623/year. Median home value is $1,609,400.
Is Rancho Palos Verdes, California safe?⌄
Rancho Palos Verdes's violent crime rate was 124 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 799 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?⌄
Rancho Palos Verdes has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?⌄
The cost of living in Rancho Palos Verdes is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $179,623/year. The median home value is $1,609,400. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?⌄
The average commute in Rancho Palos Verdes is 33 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