What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Manhattan Beach, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Manhattan Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California, with an estimated population of 33,453. It anchors the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. The population has contracted 1.5% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Manhattan Beach is $3,260,960 as of 2026-04, up 5.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Manhattan Beach average $5,540 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.1%). The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
Quiet strength: prices near or at all-time highs (+0.0% from 5-year peak). Solid market for owner-occupiers; investors should underwrite conservatively given the elevated entry point.
Reasons people move here
- Quiet strength: +5.0% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
- Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Things to know first
- Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.5% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
- Premium territory: $3,260,960 median home is a high bar to clear — affordability constrains the buyer pool.
More about Manhattan Beach
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.