The Town FilesPacifica, California
City in San Mateo County · population 38,640 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,249,800
- Household income
- $160,523
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 69°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.6
Pacifica is a city of 38,640 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,249,800, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more seaside character than 92% of California towns, more upscale than 86% of California towns, better transit than 83% of California towns.
How Pacifica 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 Pacifica is worth $1,249,800, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 7.8 times the median household income of $160,523, which is more affordable than 30% of California towns. Median rent is $3,098 a month. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pacifica | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,249,800 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $3,098 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $160,523 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Pacifica
| People | Pacifica | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.9% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.1% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Pacifica
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 Pacifica since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 20, 2005 about 4.5 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 Pacifica itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Pacifica
10 public schools with 3,912 students, about 20.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Nova High | 9-12 | 697 | 18.3 |
| Cabrillo Elementary | K-8 | 534 | 23.2 |
| Vallemar Elementary | K-8 | 519 | 23.6 |
| Oceana High | 9-12 | 491 | 16.9 |
| Ingrid B. Lacy Middle | 6-8 | 469 | 19.5 |
| Ortega Elementary | K-5 | 402 | 22.3 |
| Ocean Shore Elementary | K-8 | 401 | 22.3 |
| Sunset Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 380 | 21.1 |
| Pacifica Independent Home Study | K-8 | 19 | 9.5 |
| Linda Mar Educational Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Pacifica
- San Bruno, CA2.8 mi · 43,908 people · home $1,207,500
- Montara, CA4.1 mi · 2,833 people · home $1,580,700
- Millbrae, CA4.2 mi · 23,216 people · home $1,934,900
- Broadmoor, CA5.9 mi · 4,411 people · home $1,254,600
- Burlingame, CA6.3 mi · 31,386 people · home $2,000,001
- El Granada, CA6.4 mi · 5,481 people · home $1,424,700
- South San Francisco, CA6.5 mi · 66,105 people · home $1,188,800
- Moss Beach, CA6.5 mi · 3,214 people · home $1,123,100
Pacifica questions
Is Pacifica, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pacifica scores better for retirees than 62% of California towns and quieter than 42%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Pacifica?
The median owner-occupied home in Pacifica is valued at $1,249,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $160,523, so homes cost about 7.8 times income. Median rent is $3,098 a month.
What is the weather like in Pacifica?
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 Pacifica get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pacifica 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)