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Buying a home in Pismo Beach, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Pismo Beach is worth about $1,021,300, 39% above the California median of $734,700 and 3.1 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $7,023 a year in property taxes, about 0.69% of their home's value, close to the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $118,072 a year, so the median home costs 8.6 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Pismo Beach at a glance

Pismo Beach California U.S.
Median home value $1,021,300 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $7,023 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.69% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $118,072 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 65% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,120 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 28.4% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,232 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.0% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1986 1976 1980
Vacant homes 32.8% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 8,014 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Pismo Beach

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Pismo Beach home of $1,021,300 with 20% down costs about $6,509 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $8,375, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $278,960 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 66% of the median Pismo Beach household income of $118,072; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $432,000.

The median rent here is $2,232 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,277 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$204,260
Loan amount$817,040
Principal and interest$5,496
Property taxes (0.69% a year)$587
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$426
PMI$0
Total per month$6,509

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$35,746
Loan amount$1,002,802
Principal and interest$6,746
Property taxes (0.69% a year)$587
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$426
FHA mortgage insurance$616
Total per month$8,375

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Questions about home buying in Pismo Beach

What is the median home value in Pismo Beach?

About $1,021,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Pismo Beach?

Homeowners pay a median $7,023 a year, which is about 0.69% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Pismo Beach?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,509 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $278,960 a year.

More about Pismo Beach

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data