Is Hermosa Beach a good place to live? The short answer
Four numbers sum it up:
- $2,272,277: Zillow's typical home value in September 2026, its highest level, up 84.5% in ten years.
- $3,970 a month: Zillow's typical observed rent, up 7.8% in a year.
- 64.4 points above standard: the district's 2025 English result on the California School Dashboard, rated Blue.
- 4.0 per 1,000: violent crimes per 1,000 residents in 2025, from DOJ counts, against 5.4 for Los Angeles County.
Hermosa Beach is the smallest of the three Beach Cities, between Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. It has 19,063 residents and 10,385 homes on 1.426 square miles of land (Census). Half of the homes are owned and half rented. The question for most people is not whether it is pleasant but whether the price is worth it to them.
Pros of living in Hermosa Beach
Pro: the beach is the whole point
Los Angeles County's Beaches and Harbors department describes almost 2 miles of ocean frontage and 94 acres of public beach, with surf, swimming areas, volleyball nets on the sand, lifeguards in daylight hours and access to the coastal bike path. The beach runs south until it meets King Harbor in Redondo Beach. In a city this narrow, many homes are a short walk from the sand.
Pro: a compact town you can cross on foot
The city's land area is 1.426 square miles, with about 13,400 residents per square mile. Pier Avenue's restaurants and shops, the beach, the parks and the three schools all sit within a small area, so many daily trips can be made on foot or by bike. Just 5.2% of households have no vehicle, though, so most people still own a car.
Pro: top Dashboard results in the local schools
The Hermosa Beach City School District scored 64.4 points above the state standard in English and 53.1 above in math in 2025, both Blue, against state averages of 8.1 and 42.4 points below. After grade 8, students choose Mira Costa High or Redondo Union High. Our Hermosa Beach schools guide has each campus.
Pro: home values have held and grown
Zillow's typical value rose 17.5% over five years and 84.5% over ten, and September 2026 was the highest month on record. Redfin's three-month median dipped 2.8% in a year, so short-term moves vary by measure, but long-run owners have done well.
Pro: mild weather all year
At the nearest major federal weather station, Los Angeles International Airport, a few miles north, NOAA's 1991-2020 normals give an average August high of 76.7°F and a January high of 66.3°F, with January lows near 49°F. Rain averages 12.23 inches a year, almost all of it from November to March.
Pro: violent crime below the county and state
Hermosa Beach police reported 76 violent crimes in 2025, about 4.0 per 1,000 residents, compared with 5.4 for Los Angeles County and 4.3 for California (our calculations from DOJ counts and Census population). See Hermosa Beach crime data for the trend and the limits of these figures.
Pro: lower sales tax than two neighbors
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration lists a 10.25% sales tax rate for Hermosa Beach from October 1, 2026, the same as Redondo Beach and half a point below Manhattan Beach and El Segundo at 10.75%.
Pro: modest property tax add-ons and no city transfer tax
The 2026-27 rate for tax rate area 4340 in Hermosa Beach is 1.065787%, only about 0.07 points above the 1% base. When you sell, the city adds no transfer tax of its own; only the county's $1.10 per $1,000 applies. See our Los Angeles County property tax guide.
Pro: public health and fitness programs
The Beach Cities Health District runs programs for the three Beach Cities, including the Blue Zones Project, a Center for Health and Fitness, AdventurePlex for children, care management and mental health programs. Ask about membership rates and eligibility for residents.
Pro: well suited to remote work
In the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey, 36.5% of working residents worked from home, and 76.0% of adults 25 and over held a bachelor's degree or higher. If you work remotely, the commute question largely disappears.
Cons of living in Hermosa Beach
Con: buying takes a very high income
With 20% down ($454,455) at Freddie Mac's 7.24% rate, principal and interest on the typical home is about $12,388 a month, and property tax adds about $2,012. Spending 28% of gross income on that $14,400 means earning about $617,000 a year, almost four times the median household income of $166,442.
Con: rents keep climbing
Zillow's typical rent of $3,970 rose 7.8% in a year and 31.6% in five years. It peaked at $4,026 in July 2026. The Census median gross rent, which includes long-held leases, was $2,887 over 2020-2024.
Con: old housing stock
The Census Bureau counts 53.2% of Hermosa homes as built before 1970 and only 4.4% since 2010. Older homes can need foundation, plumbing, electrical and seismic work. Budget for inspections and ask for permit histories.
Con: property crime above the state rate
Hermosa Beach recorded 437 property crimes in 2025, or 22.9 per 1,000 residents, above California's 18.0, though close to Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. Bicycle thefts (85) and thefts from vehicles (48) were common. Visitors add to the counts.
Con: crowds and parking near the beach
The county calls Hermosa one of its most popular beaches and notes metered street parking. On summer weekends and during tournaments and festivals, streets near the pier fill. Check where you would park and how often guests can visit.
Con: little public transit
Only 0.3% of working residents commuted by public transit, and 53.0% drove alone. The county lists Beach Cities Transit line 109 and Commuter Express line 438 stops near the beach, but most trips outside the South Bay need a car. The mean commute was 28.5 minutes.
Con: no high school in town
Hermosa's district ends at grade 8. Students go to high school in Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach, which means a daily trip out of the city.
Con: few homes for sale
Redfin counted 54 sales and 44 homes on the market in the three months to September 2026. With one ZIP code and about 18 sales a month, the right home in your price range may take months to appear.
What living in Hermosa Beach is like
Climate in Hermosa Beach
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the LAX station show highs between about 66°F and 77°F through the year, and lows between 49°F and 65°F. The driest months are June to August, with under a tenth of an inch of rain each. Coastal mornings can differ from the airport, so ask neighbors how much sun and fog a particular street gets.
Getting around Hermosa Beach
Most residents drive. Beach Cities Transit 109 and Commuter Express 438 stop near the beach, and the coastal bike path runs along the sand. For commuters, the 2020-2024 mean travel time to work was 28.5 minutes, close to California's 28.7. Test your own commute at rush hour before you buy.
Things to do in Hermosa Beach
Beach volleyball, surfing, swimming, beach tennis and cycling are the everyday draws, and the county notes volleyball tournaments and surf festivals through the year. Pier Avenue leads to the pier. The Hermosa Beach Community Center occupies the former Pier Avenue School, and South Park sits at the south end of town. Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, with King Harbor, are next door.
Salary needed to live in Hermosa Beach
MIT's Living Wage Calculator works at county level, so it understates Hermosa's housing costs, but it sets a floor. Our own figures use Zillow's September 2026 home value and rent.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Living wage, 1 adult, no children (Los Angeles County) | $28.92 an hour, $60,161 a year before tax | MIT Living Wage Calculator, February 2026 |
| Living wage, 2 working adults, 2 children (Los Angeles County) | $140,735 a year before tax for the household | MIT Living Wage Calculator |
| Income to rent the typical Hermosa home at 30% of income | About $158,800 a year | Our calculation from Zillow rent of $3,970 |
| Income to buy the typical Hermosa home at 28% of income | About $617,000 a year | Our calculation: 20% down, 7.24%, tax at 1.065787% |
| Median household income, Hermosa Beach | $166,442 | Census ACS 2020-2024 |
For renters, a household earning the median of $166,442 can afford the typical rent at about 29% of income. For buyers, the gap is large: the typical home needs an income near $617,000, or a much larger down payment. Our California cost of living guide compares other areas.
Who's moving to and from Hermosa Beach
Few residents move each year. In the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey, 89.0% of residents lived in the same home a year earlier. Of the 11.0% who had moved, most came from within Los Angeles County (7.8% of all residents), 0.9% from elsewhere in California, about 2.0% from another state and 0.3% from abroad. The median age was 42.7, and 14.0% of residents were 65 or older.
The Census survey does not track where people leave for. With 2.5 months of housing supply and 89% staying put, turnover is low, which keeps the number of listings small.
Retiring in Hermosa Beach
Retirees who already own here keep the benefit of Prop 13, which limits increases in their assessed value to 2% a year. Homeowners 55 and over who sell elsewhere in California can move their tax base here under Prop 19, subject to its limits; see our California Prop 19 guide. The Beach Cities Health District runs care management and fitness programs. On the other side, more than half of Hermosa homes were built before 1970, so check stairs, access and the cost of updates in any home you consider. Our guide to the best places to retire in California compares other options.
Where to live in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa has no official neighborhoods, but listings use a few names. Near the beach, listings call the blocks closest to the sand the Sand Section, where a detached townhouse on Palm Drive sold for $2,805,000 in May 2026. Around Pier Avenue you trade quiet for restaurants and shops within a short walk. North of the pier, the numbered streets run toward Manhattan Beach; a 2016 five-bedroom house on 18th Street is listed as sold at $4,400,000. At the south end near Herondo Street, complexes such as The Mooring offer townhomes near King Harbor. Inland, on Prospect Avenue east of Pacific Coast Highway and Ardmore Avenue just west of it, 1970s condos sold for $725,000 to $880,000 in 2026. Our Hermosa Beach homes guide has more on each area and our condos guide covers attached homes.
Should you move to Hermosa Beach? A checklist
- Price your monthly payment, with taxes, insurance and any HOA dues, at today's rate.
- Decide between a detached house, a townhouse and a condo; the Redfin medians were $2,864,277, $2,522,504 and $729,478.
- Visit on a summer weekend evening and a winter weekday.
- Test the commute at rush hour, or confirm you can work from home.
- Check flood and tsunami maps and the home's age and permits.
- Confirm the address is in the Hermosa Beach City School District and plan for high school.
- Look at crime data near the address, not just the citywide rate.
- Compare with Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach.