The Town FilesMontara, California
Community in San Mateo County · population 2,833 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,580,700
- Household income
- $233,826
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 69°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 50.5
Montara is a community of 2,833 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,580,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of California towns, more of a college town than 97% of California towns, better for cycling than 95% of California towns.
How Montara 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 Montara is worth $1,580,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.8 times the median household income of $233,826, which is more affordable than 43% of California towns. Median rent is $3,032 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montara | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,580,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $3,032 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $233,826 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.7% | — |
Who lives in Montara
| People | Montara | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66.9% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.6% | — |
| Work from home | 28.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 93.3% |
Weather in Montara
July highs average 69.4°F and January lows 45.3°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montara since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 20, 2005 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 20, 2005.
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 Montara itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Montara
1 public school with 156 students, about 26.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farallone View Elementary | K-5 | 156 | 26.0 |
Towns near Montara
- Moss Beach, CA2.4 mi · 3,214 people · home $1,123,100
- El Granada, CA2.8 mi · 5,481 people · home $1,424,700
- Pacifica, CA4.1 mi · 38,640 people · home $1,249,800
- Millbrae, CA6.1 mi · 23,216 people · home $1,934,900
- Half Moon Bay, CA6.3 mi · 11,795 people · home $1,549,500
- San Bruno, CA6.3 mi · 43,908 people · home $1,207,500
- Hillsborough, CA7.4 mi · 11,387 people · home $2,000,001
- Burlingame, CA7.6 mi · 31,386 people · home $2,000,001
Montara questions
Is Montara, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montara scores better for retirees than 82% of California towns and quieter than 71%. 31.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in Montara?
The median owner-occupied home in Montara is valued at $1,580,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $233,826, so homes cost about 6.8 times income. Median rent is $3,032 a month.
What is the weather like in Montara?
July highs average 69.4°F and January lows 45.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Montara get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montara since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 20, 2005. 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)