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Pismo Beach, CA

View of Pismo Beach, CA
Image credit: Soundsfancy / CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
7,911
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
57 ft
Median Home Value
$1,021,300
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$2,232/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$118,072
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024

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Pismo Beach in context.

OverallBest places in CaliforniaPopulation rankingHighest population places in CaliforniaNearest larger communityArroyo Grande, California5.4 miles away · 18,123 residents.

About Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach is a small Central Coast city in southern San Luis Obispo County, known for its beach, pier, cliffs, and classic California road-trip feel. The name comes from a Chumash word for tar gathered from nearby Price Canyon, tying the resort town to an older local landscape. Today Pismo is built around ocean views, hotels, restaurants, surfing, and visitors moving along Highway 101. It feels compact, scenic, and strongly shaped by tourism without losing its beach-town scale.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Lower FEMA County Hurricane Risk IndexA+100.0ratingLower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+99.9ratingLower FEMA County Winter Hazard Risk IndexA+99.4rating

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