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Moving to
Hermosa Beach.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it's like to live in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hermosa Beach deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
How Hermosa Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it takes to move to Hermosa Beach
Based on Hermosa Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,774
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $115,480 a year
- 43% of Hermosa Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$400,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $200,000
- Homes cost 12.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 104% above US
$2,887/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,887 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $2,000,000+. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $2,000,000+ · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Los Angeles County is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Los Angeles County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 28% above US
423 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2379/100k · Hermosa Beach Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
29 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 37% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 75°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 47°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 111% above US
76% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (26 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hermosa Beach's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,887/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (37% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone moving without a job lined up.
See all the data for Hermosa Beach →·All California cities →
Other places near Hermosa Beach
All California guides →Moving to Redondo Beach →
2 mi away · pop. 69,291
Rent $2,691/mo · Income $150,245
Compare with Hermosa Beach →Moving to Manhattan Beach →
2 mi away · pop. 34,210
Rent $3,449/mo · Income $204,306
Compare with Hermosa Beach →Moving to El Segundo →
4 mi away · pop. 16,769
Rent $2,556/mo · Income $150,737
Compare with Hermosa Beach →Moving to Torrance →
4 mi away · pop. 142,130
Rent $2,280/mo · Income $116,217
Compare with Hermosa Beach →Not sure Hermosa Beach is the one?
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