Point Montara Lighthouse, 1980
Montara’s story
118 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1980 and a map from 1978 on.
- 1908Montara is settled
MontaraCA
Settled in 1908, this town now has 2,917 residents.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Public domain · Public domain
Population
2,917
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$1.44M
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$234K
median
Median age
50.5
years
Jobs based here
142
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#311 of 841 in CA
Is Montara a good place to live?
A town of contrasts. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.4 million, 10.6 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. It also trails on hazard risk — FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Where it does best is health — CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 89% of the country. Add incomes to its strengths (A−) — the median household earns $234K. The overall grade comes out at C+, 311th of 841 in California. Set against the rest, it does better than 37% of U.S. towns. Rancho Corral de Tierra, at 861 acres with 9.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Montara stand out
Where Montara beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
14 miles of trails in Montara
52.4% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
2
San Francisco Peninsula Watershed0.2 mi of trails · 299 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Montara grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Montara is from typical.
Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listDOpen →Cost of livingAmong the weakest of the towns comparedDOpen →HealthPeninsula Medical Center 6.8 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 71° summer afternoons–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 50.5; 67% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 248 attractions →Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 220 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Montara. Close and well known come first.
Big draw20 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw19 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaOracle Park
Big draw17 mi GardenPresidio of San Francisco
Big draw18 mi LandmarkLombard StreetSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain
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Getting set up
Moving to Montara: who provides what
Montara is unincorporated, so San Mateo County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMontara Water and Sanitary DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Mateo CountySan Mateo County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Mateo County Clerk - ElectionsSan Mateo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2024
ZIP code9403794037 99%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Montara.
Montara keeps more of its land conserved than most of California and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of California.
HousingCost of living grade D
Montara earns a D for cost of living
At 10.6 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income, the typical home (about $1.44M) costs more against local pay than in 80% of California towns; that ratio is one input to that grade. The median property tax bill is $9,051, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
Montara: 78% of households own their home. Its going rate for rent stands at $3,032 a month, above both California’s towns ($1,895 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The typical Montara home is worth about $1,438,000, up 3.8% in a year, 89% above the California typical home.
$1.44MZillow home value
| Montara | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $3,032 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Montara$1.44M
California$762K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB
Montara’s public schools outperform 57% of California districts
The Cabrillo Unified school district runs its public schools. Its one school is below. 177 students attend Montara’s public school.
57%of CA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farallone View ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 177 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Conservation land takes up nearly a third of Montara
Its 1,294 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 98% of California towns. Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #3 of 847 in California.
Montara’s density of trails stands at 3.7 miles per square mile, against 1.0 in California’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. In 3 parks and preserves, walkers have 14 miles of trail. Parks and preserves here: 3, covering 1,162 acres.
#46for trails in CA
52.4%
conserved · 1,294 of 2,468 acres
14 mi
of trails · 3.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rancho Corral de Tierra | 9.4 mi | 861 |
| 2. San Francisco Peninsula Watershed | 0.2 mi | 299 |
| 3. Montara State Beach | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthA
Montara stands out in California and nationally, with fewer of its adults who sleep under 7 hours
Against the 550 U.S. towns with household incomes like Montara’s, it is less healthy than 92%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Montara, 18% get no exercise outside work. Of 32 CDC measures, Montara beats the California average on 15 and trails it on 3. 26% of adults here have obesity; 14% report frequent mental distress.
89%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Montara | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 35% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 29% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 24% | 25% |
32 measures vs. California
15 better14 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Montara | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 6.4% |
Peninsula Medical Center
6.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
82nd
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Montara faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Of the losses FEMA expects in Montara, 44% come from earthquakes and 35% from tsunamis. Flood insurance has paid out on 2 claims locally since 1986.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesTsunamisInland flooding
2
paid flood claims since 1986
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Montara’s workers leave town for work
Montara has 142 jobs for its 991 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. 28.7% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.
In Montara, 3.4% of residents live below the poverty line. For most workers, Montara is a place to come home to: only 1% work in town. Also worth knowing: its average trip to work stands at 31 minutes. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Montara dropped by 115, to 142.
1%work in town
| Montara | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $234,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Montara1%
San Francisco18%
Half Moon Bay7%
South San Francisco5%
San Jose4%
18 mi
median commute distance
142
jobs based in Montara
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 24% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect mild winters and pleasant summers in Montara
January nights average 44.2°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 69.2°.
The July high locally is 69°F. Snow is a rarity.
71°summer high
| Montara | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 69°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 44°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter44–57°
Spring47–62°
Summer53–69°
Fall51–67°
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
71°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Montara
17pages on Montara
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Montara
Skyline CollegeCommunity college · Public · San Bruno5.8 mi$1,272 in-state tuitionCollege of San MateoCommunity college · Public · San Mateo8.7 mi$1,332 in-state tuitionSan Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · San Francisco12 mi$7,950 in-state tuition
About 11 of every 100 Montara residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Montara for work
Where Montara’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
142jobs based in Montara
1%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Montara
Census-designated place in California, United States
Montara () is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 2,833 at the 2020 census. Nearby communities include Moss Beach and Princeton-by-the-Sea.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 98 ft
- ZIP code
- 94037
- Area code
- 650
Montara’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Montara.
Moss BeachMontara
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montara | #311 | C+ | D | — | B | A |
| Moss Beach | #150 | B | D | — | B | A |
Montara and Moss Beach report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Montara with a neighbor →
Questions about Montara
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Montara, CA a good place to live?
Montara grades C+ overall, better than 37% of U.S. towns and #311 of 841 in California. It grades A for health and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Montara, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.