Median Age
54 Years
Largest Age Group
65-74 Years
Approximately 18% of Residents
Under 20
16%
Over 65
35%
Morro Bay
Morro Bay, CA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,103
Population
11,948
Renter Mix
43% Rent
The true jewel of California is Morro Bay.
Pacific Ocean
•
Surfing
•
Beach
•
Coastal Living
•
Nature
•
Outdoor Adventures
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Morro Bay is the kind of coastal town where a 581-foot volcanic rock jutting out of the Pacific sets the tone for everything around it. Designated a National Historical Landmark, Morro Rock anchors this small San Luis Obispo County city in a way that's hard to forget once you've seen it. The Embarcadero waterfront invites long walks past fishing boats and seafood shacks, while Morro Bay State Park and Morro Strand State Beach offer three miles of shoreline for kayaking, beachcombing, and bird-watching over one of the Central Coast's most protected estuaries. Sitting almost exactly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the city delivers a laid-back pace that bigger metros simply can't match.
Rentals here tend to be cozy cottages, low-rise apartment communities, and single-family homes that reflect the town's unhurried character. The area draws outdoor enthusiasts thanks to its proximity to Montana de Oro State Park and easy water access year-round. Morro Bay holds a place in film history as well—Pixar's Finding Dory used the town's Marine Sanctuary as creative inspiration for its Marine Life Institute setting, a nod to the real conservation work happening right in the bay.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$83,786
Average: $108,483
Education
5,070
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,534
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Morro Bay has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
43%
Non-Renters
57%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
36%
Other Education
64%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Morro Bay, CA is $1,103 for one bedroom, $1,309 for two bedrooms, and $1,888 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Morro Bay has increased by 0.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,103/month
0 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Morro Bay, CA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
271 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
751 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Morro Strand State Beach
- Morro Bay State Park
- Los Osos Oaks State Reserve
- Cayucos State Beach
- San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Military Bases
Airports
- San Luis County Regional
Top Apartments in Morro Bay
Houses for Rent in Morro Bay
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.