The Town FilesLa Honda, California
Community in San Mateo County · population 979 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $935,500
- Household income
- $250,001
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 45.5
La Honda is a community of 979 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $935,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of California towns, more seaside character than 98% of California towns, quieter than 94% of California towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California
- #2 in The 11 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in California
- #3 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
- #7 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters
- #10 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in California
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
How La Honda 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 La Honda is worth $935,500, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $250,001, which is more affordable than 94% of California towns. Median rent is $1,196 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Honda | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $935,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,196 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in La Honda
| People | La Honda | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 0.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.8% | — |
| Work from home | 30.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 40.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in La Honda
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 40.9°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 11 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Honda since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on January 11, 1951 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 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 La Honda itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in La Honda
1 public school with 57 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Honda Elementary | K-5 | 57 | 19.0 |
Towns near La Honda
- Portola Valley, CA3.6 mi · 4,456 people · home $2,000,001
- Ladera, CA6.5 mi · 1,557 people · home $2,000,001
- Woodside, CA7.2 mi · 5,309 people · home $2,000,001
- Los Altos Hills, CA7.4 mi · 8,489 people · home $2,000,001
- Pescadero, CA8.3 mi · 595 people · home $1,958,300
- Palo Alto, CA8.4 mi · 68,572 people · home $2,000,001
- West Menlo Park, CA8.6 mi · 3,930 people · home $2,000,001
- Stanford, CA9.0 mi · 21,150 people · home $2,000,001
La Honda questions
Is La Honda, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Honda scores better for retirees than 99% of California towns and quieter than 94%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in La Honda?
The median owner-occupied home in La Honda is valued at $935,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $250,001, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,196 a month.
What is the weather like in La Honda?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 40.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does La Honda get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Honda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on January 11, 1951. 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)