How many renters in Half Moon Bay, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Half Moon Bay, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

40.0% (±12.0 points) of renting households in Half Moon Bay, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

31.6% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 27.6% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 40.0% (±12.0 points)
Paying 35% or more: 31.6% (±10.6 points)
Median share of income: 27.6% (±2.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Half Moon Bay

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Half Moon Bay	San Mateo County	California	United States
Less than 15%	20.5% (±10.8 points)	13.8%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	14.2% (±6.8 points)	13.7%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	4.2% (±3.3 points)	13.0%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	21.1% (±7.7 points)	11.1%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.4% (±5.7 points)	8.1%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	31.6% (±10.6 points)	40.3%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Half Moon Bay against San Mateo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Half Moon Bay	San Mateo County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	40.0% (±12.0 points)	48.4% (±1.5 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	31.6% (±10.6 points)	40.3% (±1.3 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	27.6% (±2.5 points)	29.3% (±0.6 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$114,783 (±$32,521)	$119,424 (±$3,650)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,433 (±$619)	$2,922 (±$40)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Half Moon Bay, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from San Mateo County (48.4%).

It is also lower than in California (55.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In San Mateo County, Half Moon Bay ranks 21 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 910 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Half Moon Bay

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Half Moon Bay
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Half Moon Bay	—	40.0% (±12.0 points)	—
El Granada	3.5 mi	55.7% (±34.2 points)	Not measurably different
Moss Beach	4.5 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Montara	6.3 mi	19.9% (±42.5 points)	Not measurably different
Highlands	6.3 mi	33.6% (±24.1 points)	Not measurably different
Baywood Park	6.9 mi	16.9% (±54.2 points)	Not measurably different
Hillsborough	7.7 mi	20.7% (±21.6 points)	Not measurably different
Belmont	8.6 mi	42.1% (±8.0 points)	Not measurably different
Millbrae	9.3 mi	49.6% (±7.0 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
15	San Mateo	46.5% (±3.6 points)
16	Menlo Park	46.3% (±6.7 points)
17	Colma	45.2% (±16.4 points)
18	Burlingame	44.4% (±6.3 points)
19 (tie)	Belmont	42.1% (±8.0 points)
19 (tie)	Foster City	42.1% (±6.2 points)
21	Half Moon Bay	40.0% (±12.0 points)
22	San Carlos	37.8% (±7.7 points)
23	Brisbane	35.8% (±16.7 points)
24	Highlands	33.6% (±24.1 points)
25	Broadmoor	33.1% (±37.1 points)
26	Atherton	21.7% (±20.4 points)
27	Hillsborough	20.7% (±21.6 points)

Showing 13 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Half Moon Bay

Are renters in Half Moon Bay rent-burdened?

40.0% of renting households in Half Moon Bay pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Half Moon Bay spend on rent?

The median renting household in Half Moon Bay, CA spends 27.6% (±2.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Half Moon Bay city, California (place:31708, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.