The small city of Half Moon Bay, CA is located about 29 miles south of San Francisco. Half Moon Bay is bordered by El Granada, Belmont, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Carlos, San Mateo, and the town of Hillsborough.
The area now known as Half Moon Bay dates back to the year 1776 when it was first established as an agricultural community used by Mission San Francisco de Asis. It was later called Rancho San Benito and was recognized as the first town in San Mateo County during the 1840s.
After being called Spanishtown for a brief time, the community was finally renamed Half Moon Bay in 1874. Following World War II, the area began to thrive and saw new subdivisions being built. Half Moon Bay was officially incorporated as a city on July 15, 1959.
Half Moon Bay is widely known for its world-famous Art & Pumpkin Festival that occurs every year in October. Due to this popular festival, Half Moon Bay often goes by the nickname of “Pumpkin Capital”.
Notable people from Half Moon Bay include famous surfer Jay Moriarty, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jon Miller, and Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller.
1. People of Half Moon Bay, CA – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Half Moon Bay? The area has seen steady and consistent growth nearly every decade since it was incorporated as a city, with many people relocating to Half Moon Bay over the years. The Half Moon Bay population is 12,834 with a median age of 47 years old.
Often seen as a melting pot of diversity, Half Moon Bay was settled by Canadians, Chinese, English, Germans, Irish, Mexicans, Italians, Scots, Portuguese, and Pacific Islanders. Half Moon Bay demographics consist of 61% Caucasian, 30% Hispanic or Latino, 6% Asian, and 1% Black or African American. The gender ratio in Half Moon Bay is made up of more women than men with about 54% female and 46% male.
The median household income in Half Moon Bay is $134,177, nearly twice the national average.
2. Cost of Living in Half Moon Bay, CA
How much does it cost to live in Half Moon Bay, CA? The average cost of living in Half Moon Bay is 143% higher than the national average and 93% higher than the California state average. As an expensive place to live, you can expect to pay more for food, healthcare, transportation, and the Half Moon Bay real estate market.
The homeownership rate in Half Moon Bay is 66.3%. Half Moon Bay, CA homes for sale are pricey even by California standards. The average price of a home in Half Moon Bay is $1.4 million. The median price per square foot in Half Moon Bay has increased by 31.8% in the past year.
Half Moon Bay property tax rates are 0.650%, so a $1.4 million dollar home will have property taxes of around $9,100 per year.
About 33% of people living in Half Moon Bay rent their homes and apartments. The average price of rent in Half Moon Bay is $2,400 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. Your monthly rent in Half Moon Bay will depend on your location, amenities, and home size.
3. Half Moon Bay Neighborhoods
Is Half Moon Bay, CA a safe place to live? The crime rate in Half Moon Bay is 58% lower than the national average. People residing in Half Moon Bay have a 1 in 95 chance of being a victim of crime. Half Moon Bay is considered a safe place to live!
Where should you live in Half Moon Bay? As you look around the city, you’ll find many comfortable and safe Half Moon Bay neighborhoods such as Ocean Corners and Cypress Cove.
Half Moon Bay covers an area of 6.4 square miles along the western border of San Mateo County on the Pacific Coast. The zip code in Half Moon Bay is 94019. Most local phone numbers in Half Moon Bay have a 650 area code.
There is a wide range of convenient shopping destinations in Half Moon Bay including CVS, Rite Aid, More for Less, Lucky 99 Center, Safeway, and the local Strawflower Village.
4. Half Moon Bay, CA Weather
The warm Mediterranean climate in Half Moon Bay is loved by everyone who visits or lives in the area. Half Moon Bay weather is comfortable for most of the year and sees minimal temperature changes between each season.
The average temperature in Half Moon Bay during summertime is between lows in the mid-50s and highs in the upper 60s. Winters cool down only a bit as temps drop to the low 40s at night and stay in the upper 50s during the day. The weather in Half Moon Bay gets about 24 inches of rain per year.
5. Things to Do in Half Moon Bay
There are plenty of fun things to do, local attractions, and exciting places to visit in Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay State Beach
View this post on Instagram
Spanning about 4 miles along the west coast, Half Moon Bay State Beach offers scenic views, camping, and other fun activities. Among the top attractions in Half Moon Bay, visitors can enjoy a picnic or simply have some fun under the sun as they wander around the park.
Half Moon Bay State Beach, 6 Venice Blvd, 95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-8819
Poplar Beach
As one of the most popular things to do in Half Moon Bay, the local Poplar Bay is a great spot for fishing, picnicking, and more. Whether you want to hang out and sunbathe, read a good book, or play catch, this is always a fun place to visit in Half Moon Bay.
Poplar Beach, Poplar St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-8280
Additional Major Half Moon Bay Attractions
- Pillar Point Harbor, 1 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
- Dunes Beach, Half Moon Bay, CA
- Wavecrest Open Space, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
- Barterra Winery, 315 Main St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
- John L Carter Memorial Park, Main St, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
6. Half Moon Bay Restaurants
As you make your way around the city, you’ll find a handful of top-rated restaurants in Half Moon Bay that offer great meals and fun atmospheres.
Sam’s Chowder House
View this post on Instagram
One of Half Moon Bay’s top places to eat is Sam’s Chowder House, which is well known for its delicious seafood dishes. Enjoy your meal indoors or sit on their patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean as you try shrimp scampi, seafood risotto, sea bass, salmon, Maine lobster, as well as fish & chips, and more.
Sam’s Chowder House, 4210 CA-1, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 712-0245
Miramar Beach Restaurant
Another one of the top Half Moon Bay restaurants is Miramar Beach Restaurant with its unique menu made to fit every palate. They offer mouthwatering plates that include seafood paella, filet mignon, chicken parmesan, rack of lamb, Cajun seafood boil, and much more.
Miramar Beach Restaurant, 131 Mirada Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-9053
7. Jobs in Half Moon Bay
While the city is commonly seen as more of a bedroom community, there are still plenty of places where you can find good Half Moon Bay jobs. A few of the best places to work in Half Moon Bay are:
- Cyber adAPT
- Coastal Repertory Theatre
- Kenmark Construction
If you choose to commute for work from Half Moon Bay to San Francisco, the trip covers 29 miles and takes about 45 minutes in each direction.
The average salary in Half Moon Bay is $77,000 per year. In Half Moon Bay, the state income tax rate is 9.3%, which is more than twice the national average. The Half Moon Bay unemployment rate is 5%.
8. Half Moon Bay Schools
There are about 2,566 kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old living in Half Moon Bay, adding up to around 20% of the population. Parents feel that Half Moon Bay is an excellent place for families to live because of good schools and safe communities.
Schools in Half Moon Bay are part of the local Cabrillo Unified School District, offering strong programs for kids of all ages. The top Half Moon Bay schools include:
- El Granada Elementary School
- Alvin S. Hatch Elementary School
- Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate School
- Half Moon Bay High School
There aren’t any local colleges or universities in Half Moon Bay, but students can attend Notre Dame de Namur University, which is only 11 miles away in Belmont, CA.
Living in Half Moon Bay Pros & Cons
- Pro: Beautiful weather all year round makes it easy to enjoy the many local amenities.
- Pro: The city of Half Moon Bay is a safe place to live with great schools and nice neighborhoods.
- Con: The cost of living is highly expensive, even compared to the already costly California averages.
Moving to Half Moon Bay, CA
There are more than enough reasons to move to Half Moon Bay if you can afford to live there. Anyone who needs trusted Half Moon Bay movers can count on AMS Relocation to help out! Give us a call today at (650) 284-2931 or complete the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!
