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Half Moon Bay, CA

A town of about 11,391 people in San Mateo County, part of the San Francisco area. Resident comments and photos are about Half Moon Bay; job numbers cover the wider area.

The San Francisco area:Tech hub · Tech jobs 2.3x the U.S. share
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

What locals say

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Where it is
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay in California
California in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Half Moon Bay's center.

4
grocery stores
30
restaurants
14
coffee shops
9
parks
5
playgrounds
1
library
1
live theater
2
museums
2
bookstores
4
bars
2
pharmacies

None found within 5 miles: movie theaters, hospitals.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What rent costs

Of about 1,113 rented homes in Half Moon Bay, 46% rent for under $2,000 a month and 73% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 18%
$1,000 to $1,499: 18%
$1,500 to $1,999: 11%
$2,000 to $2,499: 6%
$2,500 to $2,999: 21%
$3,000 or more: 27%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

Public schools

24 public school districts in this county, with about 78,841 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Cabrillo Unified · Half Moon Bay
2,748 students · 21 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades K to 12
San Mateo-Foster City · Foster City
10,067 students · 20.2 students per teacher · 22 schools · grades K to 8
San Mateo Union High · San Mateo
8,942 students · 19.7 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades 9 to 12
Sequoia Union High · Redwood City
8,599 students · 18.1 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades 9 to 12
South San Francisco Unified · South San Francisco
7,868 students · 19.9 students per teacher · 17 schools · grades K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$1,123,193
What a typical home sells for across the San Francisco area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
32 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Median household income
$156,000
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.61% of home value a year
About $610 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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