City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Pacifica, CA

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

37,527
Residents
$156,819
Median income
$1,211,700
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

Pacifica - the verdict

Pacifica ranks in the 95th percentile for household income and the 47th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

95th
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
47th
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: Pacifica, CA

California's Pacifica is a small city, with 37,527 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $156,819 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.2%. Pacifica's housing stock carries a median value of $1,211,700, and the median resident age is 44.3 years. Educational attainment runs 48.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 10 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 233% from five years earlier. Pacifica reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1451.4 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.4°F with 31.9 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $3,604 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 22.3 minutes, with 63.8% driving alone and 21.2% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

37,527 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$156,819 /yr

Poverty 4.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Pacifica compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 95% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities
Safety 47% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Pacifica ranks #132 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Pacifica's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Pacifica ranks #50 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Pacifica only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#154 of 1,338
88th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#148 of 1,343
89th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#928 of 1,450
36th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#291 of 1,458
80th 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.

95thIncome percentile
47thSafety percentile

95th percentile nationally for median household income · 47th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Pacifica's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Pacifica'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 48 Avg. percentile National median
Pacifica'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 Pacifica's home value compares nationally

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

$1,211,700 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% 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. Pacifica $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 - Pacifica, CA Pacifica, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pacifica, 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 Pacifica, CA median $156,819/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%
Pacifica, 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 Pacifica, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.6%

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

Population
37,527
Median Income
$156,819
Median Home Value
$1,211,700
Median Age
44.3
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Labor force participation
63.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1451.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
145.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1306.0
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.4°F
Annual Precipitation
31.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
36,000 residents37,000 residents38,000 residents39,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 38,541 residents 36,890 residents ▼ -4.3%
Pacifica's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 1
2021 42
2022 17
2023 11
2024 10

Permit volume increased 233% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.3 minutes
Drive Alone
63.8%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
5.1%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
21.2%
Other
1.9%

Based on 19,521 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 Pacifica sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,604/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Monrovia
37,553 people
La Puente
37,404 people
Foothill Farms
37,332 people
Montclair
37,809 people
Adelanto
38,010 people
Wildomar
36,953 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pacifica's 37,527 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

South Miami Heights, FL
37,525 people
Carpentersville, IL
37,544 people
Pleasant Grove, UT
37,544 people
Bartlesville, OK
37,559 people
Oregon City, OR
37,482 people
New Albany, IN
37,589 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pacifica's $156,819 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Alpine, UT
$156,786 median income
Hoback, WY
$156,766 median income
Mount Vernon, VA
$156,875 median income
Southport, CT
$156,750 median income
Artondale, WA
$156,908 median income
Birchwood, MN
$156,653 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pacifica, 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 Pacifica, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 54.7% 21.2% 14.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.4% White 54.7% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 21.2% American Indian 1.6% Native Hawaiian 1.6% Some other race 4.3% 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 Pacifica 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
Pacifica (this city) 37,527 $156,819
Monrovia 37,553 $97,083
La Puente 37,404 $84,811
Foothill Farms 37,332 $68,042
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pacifica, CA?

What is the population of Pacifica, CA? +

Pacifica, CA has a population of 37,527 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Pacifica, CA? +

Pacifica households earn a median of $156,819 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pacifica? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pacifica; 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 Pacifica, CA safe? +

Pacifica has a total crime rate of 1451.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Pacifica, CA? +

Pacifica's median home value sits at $1,211,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Pacifica? +

Climate normals put Pacifica's yearly average temperature at 57.4°F, 31.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.