Moving to Hermosa Beach, California

by btobers · Published June 5, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Hermosa Beach is a city located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California. Geographically, it is situated on the Pacific Ocean and has a Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures year-round. The city was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Gabrielino tribe who used its shorelines for fishing. Later, in 1784, Spanish settlers arrived and named it Hermosa Beach after the beautiful landscape.

Politically, Hermosa Beach is part of the 26th Congressional District and is represented by Democrat Ted Lieu in the House of Representatives. The Mayor is Bill Brand who was elected to office in 2015 and leads a five-member City Council. The economy of Hermosa Beach relies heavily on tourism as well as its thriving aerospace industry located at the Torrance Municipal Airport nearby.

In terms of education, Hermosa Beach is served by two public school districts: Hermosa Beach City School District and Redondo Beach Unified School District. In addition to this, there are several private schools located within the city limits such as Pacific Lutheran High School, American Martyrs Catholic School, and Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School.

As far as landmarks are concerned, there are several noteworthy ones in Hermosa Beach including Pier Avenue which runs alongside the beachfront boardwalk; The Strand which offers views of Santa Monica Bay; The Comedy & Magic Club which features some of today’s top comedians; and Green Belt Park which boasts acres of grassy areas for picnics or sports activities.

Population: 18,566. Estimated population in July 2024: 19,500 (+5.0% change)
Males: 9,846 (53.0%), Females: 8,720 (47.0%)

Los Angeles County

Zip code: 90254

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.2 years
Median household income: $81,153
Median house value: $519,200

Population by Race

Races in Hermosa Beach:

White Non-Hispanic (85.2%)
Hispanic (6.7%)
Two or more races (2.9%)
Other race (1.7%)
Japanese (1.3%)
Chinese (1.2%)
American Indian (0.9%)
Black (0.8%)
Filipino (0.6%)
Korean (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (19.1%), Irish (15.0%), English (14.1%), Italian (8.5%), French (5.6%), Russian (3.8%).

Elevation: 15 feet

Land area: 1.4 square miles

Map of Hermosa Beach, CA

Population by Education

Hermosa Beach, California is a small city located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. As of 2020, the population was estimated at 19,506. The city is known for its laid-back atmosphere and beach lifestyle. The majority of Hermosa Beach residents are Caucasian (83%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (9%), Asian (2%), African American (2%) and other races (4%). The median age is 39 years old and the median household income is $89,926.

The city has a strong sense of community and many family-friendly activities such as surfing lessons, beach volleyball tournaments, and fishing charters. There are numerous parks with biking trails and playgrounds for children to enjoy. Additionally, Hermosa Beach has a vibrant nightlife with popular restaurants and bars located along the pier and on Pier Avenue.

The city offers many quality educational opportunities for students of all ages including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities and adult education programs. In addition to the traditional public school system there are also several private schools available in the area.

Hermosa Beach also offers plenty of recreational activities such as kayaking tours along the coast or exploring tide pools at low tide. Visitors can take advantage of the numerous art galleries throughout town or attend one of the many festivals held annually in Hermosa Beach such as Taste Of Hermosa or Fiesta Hermosa which feature live music, food vendors and arts & crafts booths among other attractions.

For population 25 years and over in Hermosa Beach

High school or higher: 97.5%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 67.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 23.3%
Unemployed: 3.4%
Mean travel time to work: 32.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Hermosa Beach city

Never married: 47.4%
Now married: 37.5%
Separated: 1.4%
Widowed: 3.4%
Divorced: 10.3%

8.0% Foreign born (3.3% Europe, 2.2% Asia, 1.1% North America).

Population change in the 1990s: +525 (+2.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Hermosa Beach:

LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY HOSPITAL (about 4 miles; TORRANCE, CA)
ROBERT F KENNEDY MEDICAL CENTER (about 5 miles; HAWTHORNE, CA)
DEL AMO HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; TORRANCE, CA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hermosa Beach:

LOS ANGELES INTL (about 5 miles; LOS ANGELES, CA; Abbreviation: LAX)
LONG BEACH /DAUGHERTY FIELD/ (about 18 miles; LONG BEACH, CA; Abbreviation: LGB)
BURBANK-GLENDALE-PASADENA (about 24 miles; BURBANK, CA; Abbreviation: BUR)

Other public-use airports nearest to Hermosa Beach:

JACK NORTHROP FIELD/HAWTHORNE MUNICIPAL (about 6 miles; HAWTHORNE, CA; Abbreviation: HHR)
ZAMPERINI FIELD (about 7 miles; TORRANCE, CA; Abbreviation: TOA)
SANTA MONICA MUNI (about 10 miles; SANTA MONICA, CA; Abbreviation: SMO)

Amtrak stations near Hermosa Beach:

12 miles: SAN PEDRO (CATALINA TERMINAL, BERTH 95) – Bus Station. Services: partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for taxi service.
16 miles: LONG BEACH (601 N. LONG BEACH BLVD.) – Bus Station. Services: fully wheelchair accessible, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection.
18 miles: LOS ANGELES (800 N. ALAMEDA ST.). Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, snack bar, free short-term parking, paid long-term parking, car rental agency, taxi stand, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hermosa Beach:

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY (about 7 miles; LOS ANGELES, CA; Full-time enrollment: 6,890)
LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COLLEGE (about 9 miles; LOS ANGELES, CA; Full-time enrollment: 2,971)
CITY UNIVERSITY-LOS ANGELES (about 9 miles; INGLEWOOD, CA; Full-time enrollment: 2,342)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (about 9 miles; LOS ANGELES, CA; Full-time enrollment: 26,718)
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-NORTHRIDGE (about 9 miles; NORTHRIDGE, CA; Full-time enrollment: 23,133)
EL CAMINO COLLEGE (about 9 miles; TORRANCE, CA; Full-time enrollment: 12,627)
LOS ANGELES PIERCE COLLEGE (about 9 miles; WOODLAND HILLS, CA; Full-time enrollment: 8,497)

Public primary/middle schools in Hermosa Beach:

HERMOSA VALLEY ELEMENTARY (Students: 704; Location: 1645 VALLEY DR.; Grades: 02 – 08)
HERMOSA VIEW ELEMENTARY (Students: 340; Location: 1800 PROSPECT AVE.; Grades: KG – 02)

Private primary/middle school in Hermosa Beach:

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL (Students: 259; Location: 340 MASSEY AVENUE; Grades: KG – 8)