The typical owner-occupied home in Half Moon Bay is worth about $1,549,500, 2.1 times the California median of $734,700 and 4.7 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $157,884 a year, so the median home costs 9.8 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Half Moon Bay at a glance
| Half Moon Bay | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,549,500 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.65% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $157,884 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 71% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $4,001 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.1% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,433 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 27.6% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1979 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 9.1% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 11,391 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Half Moon Bay
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Half Moon Bay home of $1,549,500 with 20% down costs about $9,824 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $12,654, 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 $421,020 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 75% of the median Half Moon Bay household income of $157,884; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $581,000.
The median rent here is $2,433 a month, so owning the median home costs about $7,391 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $309,900 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,239,600 |
| Principal and interest | $8,339 |
| Property taxes (0.65% a year) | $839 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $646 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $9,824 |
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| Down payment | $54,232 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,521,435 |
| Principal and interest | $10,235 |
| Property taxes (0.65% a year) | $839 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $646 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $935 |
| Total per month | $12,654 |
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Questions about home buying in Half Moon Bay
What is the median home value in Half Moon Bay?
About $1,549,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Half Moon Bay?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.65% 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 Half Moon Bay?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $9,824 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $421,020 a year.
More about Half Moon Bay
- Mortgage Refinance in Half Moon Bay
- Debt Relief in Half Moon Bay
- Home Equity Loans in Half Moon Bay
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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