Montara 67 Good
Montara Livability #312 ranked city in California#10,526 ranked city in the USARanks better than 64% of areas
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Montara

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Employment Employment

    This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Montara?

Montara, California is a smaller city with a population of 2,902 people. At 88%, the majority of the Montara population is White; this is followed by 1% Asian and 0% Black. Montara is considered to be a city with an aging population. The average age of all residents is 55, which is well beyond the United States median age average. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Montara offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 34 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Montara could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Montara and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, crime, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the California and national averages.

Montara has a livability score of 67/100 and is ranked #316 in California and #9,691 in the USA. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Montara ranks well for crime (A+) and housing (B-) Regrettably for Montara, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F) and cost of living (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Montara has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Montara is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Montara come in at $2,000,485, which is 173.4% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Montara, the home price to income ratio is 7.9, which is 2.6% higher than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Montara

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Montara?

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Compare Montara, CA Livability

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      Montara transportation information

      Statistic Montara California National
      Average one way commute34min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work65.9%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool0.0%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.8%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home24.4%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Montara, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.