City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Hermosa Beach, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hermosa Beach - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

19,248
Residents
$152,019
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$2,601
Median rent (state)

Hermosa Beach - the verdict

Nationally, Hermosa Beach sits in the 94th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

94th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
93rd
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hermosa Beach, CA

19,248 people live in Hermosa Beach, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $152,019 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Home values in Hermosa Beach run a median of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 42.1 years. Educational attainment runs 76.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 14 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 67% from five years earlier. Hermosa Beach's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2850.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,601 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 100.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

19,248 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$152,019 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Hermosa Beach compare to other US cities?

Here's how Hermosa Beach stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 94% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 93% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Hermosa Beach ranks #350 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Hermosa Beach against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Hermosa Beach's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Hermosa Beach ranks #48 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hermosa Beach only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#173 of 1,338
87th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#513 of 1,458
56th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1 of 1,343
95th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#974 of 1,450
32nd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#48 of 1,458
97th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

94thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

94th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hermosa Beach's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hermosa Beach's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Hermosa Beach's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hermosa Beach's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$2,000,001 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Hermosa Beach $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hermosa Beach, CA Hermosa Beach, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hermosa Beach, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hermosa Beach, CA median $152,019/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hermosa Beach, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hermosa Beach, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 76.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
19,248
Median Income
$152,019
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
42.1
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
65.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
76.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2850.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
393.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2457.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
18,000 residents18,500 residents19,000 residents19,500 residents20,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 19,677 residents 18,513 residents ▼ -5.9%
Hermosa Beach's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 42
2020 35
2021 28
2022 28
2023 26
2024 14

Permit volume decreased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
55.1%
Carpool
5.4%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
2.3%
Work from Home
31.4%
Other
4.9%

Based on 10,293 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hermosa Beach sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,601/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Valle Vista
19,263 people
Prunedale
19,286 people
Santa Fe Springs
19,310 people
Rosedale
19,325 people
Dixon
19,158 people
South El Monte
19,413 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hermosa Beach's 19,248 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Holtsville, NY
19,250 people
Tinton Falls, NJ
19,252 people
Durango, CO
19,257 people
Brookfield, IL
19,235 people
West Chester, PA
19,235 people
Republic, MO
19,233 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hermosa Beach's $152,019 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Franconia, VA
$152,007 median income
Bolingbroke, GA
$152,000 median income
Aledo, TX
$152,083 median income
Natural Steps, AR
$151,944 median income
Ashburn, VA
$152,094 median income
Far Hills, NJ
$152,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hermosa Beach, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hermosa Beach, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.7% 7.4% 14.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.9% White 74.7% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 7.4% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 14.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hermosa Beach compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hermosa Beach (this city) 19,248 $152,019
Valle Vista 19,263 $61,799
Prunedale 19,286 $106,442
Santa Fe Springs 19,310 $86,857
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hermosa Beach, CA?

What is the population of Hermosa Beach, CA? +

19,248 people live in Hermosa Beach, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hermosa Beach, CA? +

In Hermosa Beach, the typical household earns $152,019 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hermosa Beach? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hermosa Beach; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Hermosa Beach, CA safe? +

Hermosa Beach has a total crime rate of 2850.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hermosa Beach, CA? +

The median home value in Hermosa Beach is $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.