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CA area data

Shell Beach, CA

Shell Beach, CA.

Population: 8,014 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Shell Beach, CA is $1.10M — up 2.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $1.38M after a median 50 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,539/month. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with drought, inland flooding, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$1.10M

Typical home value

+2.6%

1-year change

50

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$1.10M
1-year appreciation
+2.6%
3-year appreciation
+4.1%
5-year appreciation
+23.8%
10-year appreciation
+74.4%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$1.10M
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$1.38M
Median list price
$1.42M
Median price per sqft
$777
1-year sale-price change
+12.0%
Median days on market
50 days
Homes sold (recent period)
39
For-sale inventory
52
Sale-to-list ratio
97.4%
Active listings
35
1-year forecast
+1.3%
New listings (monthly)
15

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$3,539/mo
1-year rent change
+8.5%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,894/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$2,079/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,720/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,634/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$4,208/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
0
Avg student-teacher ratio
18.7 : 1
Schools include
Judkins Middle, Shell Beach Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
drought, inland flooding, landslide, wildfire, earthquake
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Very High · wildfire: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · tsunami: Relatively Low
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
17
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 98% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
41.3%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Casmalia Resources (21.8 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
59.0°F
Average high
69.0°F
Average low
49.0°F
Annual precipitation
17.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
10a (extreme annual low 30 to 35°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
50
Days with Good air quality
191
Days with Moderate air quality
167
Highest AQI recorded (year)
119

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
10,110
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
9,478

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
15
Nearest airport
Oceano County Airport (5 mi)
Nearest major airport
San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP) (5 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
6
Hospitals include
MARIAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, LOMPOC VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, FRENCH HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.8 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
525
Solar radiation rating
Good (5.1 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-292 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1986
Housing built before 1970
21.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
28.2%
Median annual property tax
$7,023
Mean commute to work
19 min
Households with broadband internet
78.5%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
99,890
Average weekly wage
$1,174
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
663

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Shell BeachState medianUS median
Typical home value$1.10M$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$1.38M$696,000$325,000
Median days on market50 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$3,539/mo$2,786/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$7,023$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Shell Beach, CA?
$1.10M.
What is the median sale price in Shell Beach, CA?
$1.38M.
How long do homes take to sell in Shell Beach, CA?
Median days on market: 50 days.
What is typical rent in Shell Beach, CA?
Typical rent: $3,539/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Shell Beach, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, inland flooding, landslide, wildfire, earthquake.
Is Shell Beach, CA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Shell Beach, CA. 17 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Shell Beach, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 98% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Shell Beach, CA?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Shell Beach, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Shell Beach, CA?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Shell Beach, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 6.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Shell Beach, CA?
Good. Median AQI: 50. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Shell Beach, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Shell Beach

Listing a home in Shell Beach, CA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents