The Town Files

Pepperdine University, California

Community in Los Angeles County · population 2,747 (2020 Census)

Map: where Pepperdine University is in CaliforniaPepperdine University
Median home
$979,700
Household income
$199,432
Jan low / Jul high
50° / 69°
Snow a year
0 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
1
Median age
20.2

Pepperdine University is a community of 2,747 people in Los Angeles County, California. The median home is worth $979,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of California towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns, more seaside character than 95% of California towns.

Pepperdine University in our rankings:

How Pepperdine University 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.

Pepperdine University lifestyle rankings vs other California townsRetirement77th pctFamilies57th pctQuiet54th pctWalkability4th pctFirst-time buyersbottomYoung professionals100th pctVibrancy43rd pctHip & trendy51st pctCollege town92nd pctUpscale93rd pctVacation homes100th pctSeaside character95th pctCycling76th pctTransit65th pctDriving1st pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Pepperdine University is worth $979,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $199,432, which is more affordable than 78% of California towns. Median rent is $3,139 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.

Pepperdine University vs Los Angeles County vs typical California townPepperdine UniversityLos Angeles CountyTypical California townHome value$979,700$834,200$596,900Household income$199,432$90,112$91,557Monthly rent$3,139$1,954$1,827
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of California towns with 500+ people.
HousingPepperdine UniversityTypical California town
Median home value$979,700$596,900
Median rent$3,139$1,827
Median household income$199,432$91,557
Home value ÷ income4.9×6.4×
Homeownership57.4%67.4%
Median year built19871977
Seasonal / vacation homes0.0%—

Who lives in Pepperdine University

PeoplePepperdine UniversityTypical California town
Median age20.240.2
Age 65 and over3.2%17.7%
Under 185.8%—
Bachelor's degree or higher90.6%27.7%
Below the poverty line0.0%10.3%
Veterans1.2%—
Born outside the U.S.16.3%—
Work from home20.0%13.4%
Average commute13.3 min27.5 min
Homes with broadband100.0%93.3%

Weather in Pepperdine University

July highs average 69.4°F and January lows 49.6°F. About 12.2 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 0 nights at or below freezing.

Pepperdine University monthly temperatures and precipitation40°50°60°70°62°50°Jan62°50°Feb62°52°Mar63°53°Apr63°56°May66°59°Jun69°62°Jul70°62°Aug70°61°Sep68°59°Oct67°54°Nov63°50°DecPrecipitation (in)3.13.11.70.60.20.10.00.00.00.50.82.0
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Santa Monica Pier station (12.2 mi away); snow from Topanga Patrol Fc-6 (7.0 mi).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Pepperdine University since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on November 9, 1982 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 9, 1982.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Pepperdine University by decade01950s01960s01970s11980s01990s02000s02010s02020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on January 21, 2010.

Severe weather in Los Angeles County since 1996

Storm events in Los Angeles County since 1996 by typeHail23Flood24Tornado18Wildfire34High Wind171Lightning10Heavy Rain9Debris Flow24
NOAA Storm Events Database, Los Angeles County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996). 74 deaths recorded.

Los Angeles County has been included in 88 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
August 8, 2025FireFM-5605: Canyon Fire
January 8, 2025FireDR-4856: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds
January 8, 2025FireFM-5550: Eaton Fire
January 8, 2025FireFM-5551: Hurst Fire
January 7, 2025FireFM-5549: Palisades Fire

Jobs and pay in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County had 4,525,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $83,554 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Pepperdine University itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.

Largest industries in Los Angeles CountyHealth care & social assistan…818,122 jobs · $57,296Hotels & restaurants436,540 jobs · $36,750Retail398,015 jobs · $50,556Manufacturing311,242 jobs · $95,918Professional & technical serv…305,604 jobs · $133,862Administrative & support271,747 jobs · $57,712
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Los Angeles County, 2000–20230%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023Los Angeles 5%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Towns near Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University questions

Is Pepperdine University, California a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pepperdine University scores better for retirees than 77% of California towns and quieter than 54%. 3.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.2).

How much does a house cost in Pepperdine University?

The median owner-occupied home in Pepperdine University is valued at $979,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $199,432, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $3,139 a month.

What is the weather like in Pepperdine University?

July highs average 69.4°F and January lows 49.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.

Does Pepperdine University get tornadoes?

1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Pepperdine University since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on November 9, 1982. The typical California town has had 2.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Pepperdine University's Census boundary (GEOID 0656598). Comparisons use the median of California towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-12.