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Living in
Manhattan Beach.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Manhattan Beach
Moving to Manhattan Beach means joining one of Southern California's most expensive coastal communities, where the median home price hovers around $2 million and beachfront land routinely sells for $10 million per 3,000 square feet. The moderate climate—averaging around 69 degrees year-round with ocean breezes that keep summers 10-20 degrees cooler than inland areas—is a genuine advantage if you value consistent, mild weather. The beach itself is legitimately nice: 2.1 miles long and notably wide, with several distinct neighborhoods offering different vibes, from the quieter walk-street areas near the ocean to the Hill Section if you want panoramic views (and steeper prices).
Manhattan Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Foreign-Born
12.2%
Broadband Internet
99.0%
of households
Population Growth
-6.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.2% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Manhattan Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Manhattan Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (11.8%), and 4.0% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
24.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
59.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 69% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Manhattan Beach
In Manhattan Beach, rent runs 69% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
64.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $3,353,430 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Manhattan Beach and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Manhattan Beach is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Manhattan Beach Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute28 min avg
How Manhattan Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Manhattan Beach, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Manhattan Beach runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
121.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,215.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Manhattan Beach Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Los Angeles County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Los Angeles County, which includes Manhattan Beach, the most common type is high wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | High Wind | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | High Wind | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Debris Flow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
118 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Manhattan Beach is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality74 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Los Angeles County, which includes Manhattan Beach, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
74
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
32
per year
Los Angeles County, county-wide
Manhattan Beach is less than 1% of Los Angeles County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 50°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Manhattan Beach has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and warm winters (avg low 50°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/50°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 49°F | 2.86" |
| Feb | 66°F | 50°F | 2.99" |
| Mar | 66°F | 52°F | 1.73" |
| Apr | 68°F | 54°F | 0.60" |
| May | 70°F | 58°F | 0.28" |
| Jun | 72°F | 61°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 75°F | 64°F | 0.04" |
| Aug | 77°F | 65°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 77°F | 64°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 74°F | 60°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 71°F | 54°F | 0.82" |
| Dec | 66°F | 49°F | 2.23" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Manhattan Beach
Uninsured
1.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Manhattan Beach's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Little Company of Mary Med Ctr Torrance
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.1 mi away · Torrance
Centinela Hospital Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 6.2 mi away · Inglewood
Cedar-sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Marina Del Rey
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach's student/teacher ratio is 23.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 78.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
78.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Manhattan Beach (within 15 miles)
University of California-Los Angeles
12.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,475 students · in-state tuition $15,729 · 94% graduate · median earnings $88,581 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 21,440 students · in-state tuition $1,158 · 28% graduate · median earnings $46,589 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Southern California
12.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 20,443 students · in-state tuition $75,162 · 93% graduate · median earnings $103,420 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Dominguez Hills
9.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,538 students · in-state tuition $7,853 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,587 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,094 students · in-state tuition $65,857 · 82% graduate · median earnings $86,034 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,694 students · in-state tuition $1,238 · 23% graduate · median earnings $47,368 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
25 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
69 mi awayChannel Islands National Park
National Park
86 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach Library
1320 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach
Cities Near Manhattan Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Manhattan Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Manhattan Beach FAQ
Is Manhattan Beach, California affordable?⌄
Manhattan Beach's median rent is $3,449/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $204,306/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Manhattan Beach, California safe?⌄
Manhattan Beach's violent crime rate was 121 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2216 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Manhattan Beach, California?⌄
Manhattan Beach has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Manhattan Beach, California?⌄
The cost of living in Manhattan Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,449/month and median household income is $204,306/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Manhattan Beach, California?⌄
The average commute in Manhattan Beach is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from