The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 94020 sells for about $995,900, or $545 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 68 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $3,800 a month.
ZIP 94020 — La Honda
The housing market in 94020 is characterized by low inventory and high price points, reflecting its status as a secluded, high-income rural enclave. Market activity is limited by geographic constraints and wildfire risk, which keeps turnover low and prices stable. Figures for specific metrics like months of supply and price cuts are estimated based on limited transaction volume.
This ZIP is best suited for nature-oriented buyers, remote workers, and those seeking privacy, as the commute to major employment centers is challenging and amenities are sparse.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 68 days on market with 7.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.1% · poverty 4.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 94020, San Mateo County, CA
Crime rates in La Honda are significantly lower than the California and national averages, with the area characterized by its rural, isolated nature.
Schools serving the area are part of the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, which generally maintains small class sizes due to the rural population density.
The area faces high wildfire risk due to its location in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which significantly impacts property insurance availability and premium costs.
Economic momentum is limited by strict land-use regulations and the rural nature of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with no major commercial developments planned.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (California) — Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act Special Parcel Tax Assessment: Levies an annual direct, non-ad valorem special tax directly on the parcel's secured property tax bill to fund designated community infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewer facilities, school facilities, emergency services) and repay municipal debt bonds. State (California) — California Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption: Reduces the taxable assessed value of the qualifying owner-occupied principal residence by $7,000 against the county assessment roll, generating a direct tax savings of approximately $70 annually (computed as $7,000 × 1% base rate). State (California) — California Proposition 13 Ad Valorem Real Property Tax: Establishes a base ad valorem tax rate capped at 1.0% of assessed value plus voter-approved local indebtedness and direct assessments (typically resulting in an effective tax rate of 1.1% to 1.25%).
Commuting to employment hubs in Silicon Valley or San Francisco requires a drive of 45-60 minutes via winding mountain roads like Highway 84.
The area is defined by extensive outdoor access, including Pescadero Creek County Park and Sam McDonald Park, offering significant hiking and equestrian trails.
The rental market is extremely limited with very low inventory, consisting primarily of single-family homes and accessory dwelling units.
The local economy is primarily driven by agriculture, tourism, and remote work, with no major corporate headquarters located within the ZIP.
Public transit is virtually non-existent; residents are entirely dependent on private vehicles for transportation.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in this rural area.
The San Mateo County Assessor manages property valuations, adhering to Proposition 13 caps on annual assessment increases.
Parcels are subject to La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District taxes and various local fire protection district assessments.
Property insurance is difficult to obtain and expensive due to the high wildfire hazard classification of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 94020 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Large regional park offering extensive hiking and redwood forest access.
Features trails and historic structures in a forested setting.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 16.3% from the nearest retained anchor (prior refresh cycle) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Validation: the flagged $1,158,100 (+16.3% vs the prior refresh cycle) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.