The Town FilesHalf Moon Bay, California
City in San Mateo County · population 11,795 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,549,500
- Household income
- $157,884
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 65°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 47.4
Half Moon Bay is a city of 11,795 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,549,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of California towns, more upscale than 88% of California towns, better for cycling than 88% of California towns.
How Half Moon Bay ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Half Moon Bay is worth $1,549,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 9.8 times the median household income of $157,884, which is more affordable than 10% of California towns. Median rent is $2,433 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Half Moon Bay | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,549,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,433 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $157,884 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Half Moon Bay
| People | Half Moon Bay | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.4% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.6% | — |
| Work from home | 25.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 93.3% |
Weather in Half Moon Bay
July highs average 64.8°F and January lows 43.4°F. About 26.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Half Moon Bay since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F0, struck on February 7, 1998 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 7, 1998.
Severe weather in San Mateo County since 1996
San Mateo County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in San Mateo County
San Mateo County had 416,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $196,441 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Half Moon Bay itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Half Moon Bay
5 public schools with 2,446 students, about 21.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Moon Bay High | 9-12 | 987 | 19.7 |
| Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate | 6-8 | 542 | 20.8 |
| Alvin S. Hatch Elementary | K-5 | 541 | 25.8 |
| El Granada Elementary | K-5 | 335 | 22.3 |
| Pilarcitos Alternative High (Continuation) | 9-12 | 41 | 41.0 |
Towns near Half Moon Bay
- El Granada, CA3.5 mi · 5,481 people · home $1,424,700
- Moss Beach, CA4.5 mi · 3,214 people · home $1,123,100
- Montara, CA6.3 mi · 2,833 people · home $1,580,700
- Hillsborough, CA7.7 mi · 11,387 people · home $2,000,001
- Belmont, CA8.6 mi · 28,335 people · home $2,000,001
- Millbrae, CA9.3 mi · 23,216 people · home $1,934,900
- Burlingame, CA9.5 mi · 31,386 people · home $2,000,001
- San Mateo, CA9.6 mi · 105,661 people · home $1,618,700
Half Moon Bay questions
Is Half Moon Bay, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Half Moon Bay scores better for retirees than 87% of California towns and quieter than 69%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Half Moon Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Half Moon Bay is valued at $1,549,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $157,884, so homes cost about 9.8 times income. Median rent is $2,433 a month.
What is the weather like in Half Moon Bay?
July highs average 64.8°F and January lows 43.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Half Moon Bay get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Half Moon Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on February 7, 1998. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)