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Pismo Beach, CA
Full City Profile · California · San Luis Obispo County County
3.1
/5.0
B
Good
8,024
Population
2,293/sq mi density
$112,913
Median Income
$74,035 per capita
$992,900
Home Value
$1,094,397 Zillow
$2,298
Median Rent
31.1% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
350
Violent Crime/100K
4,116 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.9 / 5.0
$112,913 median income, 2.4% unemployment
D
Affordability
1.7 / 5.0
$992,900 home value, $2,298/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
350 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
50.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Pismo Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 55°F in January while summers reach 62°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 17.9 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
55°F Jan (13°C)
62°F Jul (17°C)
| Annual Average | 59.1°F |
| 9% above US avg | |
| January Average | 55°F (13°C) |
| July Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 51 ft (16 m) |
| Area | 13.5 sq mi (34.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,293/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.1532°N, 120.6739°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | San Luis Obispo County County |
| Nearest Airport | San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 5 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0404 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 5.1 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 0.39 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 4.9 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 32.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 93.9 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very High |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.4 m (11 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1812 | S. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 3.4 m | 1 | 127 km |
| 1927 | S. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.8 m | — | 39 km |
| 1878 | S. CALIFORNIA | Meteorological | 1.0 m | 1 | 6 km |
| 1901 | MONTEREY BAY, N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 96 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55°F (13°C) | 4.9 in | Wettest |
| February | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 4.2 in | |
| April | 56°F (13°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 0.4 in | |
| June | 60°F (16°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 62°F (17°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| August | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 in | |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 in | Warmest |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 in | |
| December | 53°F (12°C) | 3.5 in | Coldest |
Pismo Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 10°F / from 53°F in December to 63°F in September. Total annual precipitation is 22.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (4.9") and July the driest (0.0").