Manhattan Beach is the northernmost of the South Bay’s three beach cities: a compact coastal town where the walk streets run down to the sand, the 1920 pier anchors a busy downtown, and LAX is roughly six miles away. This guide covers the neighborhoods, schools, beaches, places to eat and getting around, with notes from Jesse Dougherty, a South Bay agent with Compass.
Neighborhoods in Manhattan Beach
Each part of town has its own feel, lot sizes and price range.
- Sand Section: the blocks closest to the beach, from El Porto to the Hermosa Beach border, with small lots, walk streets and homes right on The Strand.
- Tree Section: streets named after trees between Rosecrans Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard, east of the Sand Section toward Sepulveda. Lots are larger than near the beach, and downtown is a short bike ride away.
- Hill Section: south of Manhattan Beach Boulevard between Ardmore Avenue and Sepulveda, with bigger lots and many ocean views.
- Gas Lamp Section: a few blocks between 21st and 24th Streets lit by working gas street lamps.
- East Manhattan Beach: everything east of Sepulveda, mostly single-family streets including Manhattan Heights and Liberty Village, where many homes date from the 1950s and 1960s. Polliwog Park and Mira Costa High School are here.
- Manhattan Village: the city’s only gated community, built from 1985 beside the Manhattan Village shopping center, with townhomes and single-family homes.
- El Porto: the northern tip from 38th to 45th Street, the most densely built part of town and home to a popular surf break.
Schools
Manhattan Beach Unified School District serves the whole city. It runs five elementary schools (Grand View, Meadows, Pacific, Pennekamp and Robinson), Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School. Which elementary school a home feeds into depends on its address, so check the district’s boundary map before you make an offer. Jesse can help you confirm it for any home you’re considering.
Beaches, parks and the outdoors
The beach is the center of daily life. The Manhattan Beach Pier dates from 1920 and is a California Historical Landmark, and the Roundhouse Aquarium teaching center sits at the end of it.
The Strand runs along the sand beside the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, which stretches 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance Beach. Inland, Veterans Parkway is a 1.5-mile tree-lined path that continues into Hermosa Beach as the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt. Polliwog Park has playgrounds and summer Sunday concerts, and Sand Dune Park is known for its steep dune workout (reservations required).
Dining and shopping
Downtown Manhattan Beach, around Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Avenue and Highland Avenue, has hundreds of shops, cafes and restaurants, plus Metlox Plaza and the Shade Hotel. North of downtown, Highland Avenue between 32nd and 45th Streets has its own cluster of restaurants and bars.
For bigger errands, Manhattan Village on Sepulveda Boulevard was renovated between 2017 and 2020 and mixes department stores with casual dining. The Point and Plaza El Segundo are just across Rosecrans Avenue.
Jesse’s pick: The Strand House, at the foot of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, for a special occasion with ocean views.
Events through the year
- Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair: the first weekend of October at Live Oak Park.
- AVP Manhattan Beach Open: pro beach volleyball every August.
- International Surf Festival: late July into early August, shared with Hermosa, Redondo and Torrance.
- Concerts in the Park: summer Sunday concerts at Polliwog Park.
- Holiday season: the pier lighting in November and a holiday fireworks festival in December.
- Farmers market: Tuesdays from 11am to 3pm at the Civic Center, off 15th Street.
Getting around
Downtown Manhattan Beach is about 6 miles from LAX and about 21 miles from Downtown Los Angeles by road. The I-405 runs along the east side of the city (with exits at Rosecrans Avenue and Inglewood Avenue), the I-105 starts just north near LAX, and Sepulveda Boulevard (Highway 1) is the main north-south route through town. Drive times swing a lot with traffic, so test your commute at rush hour before you buy.
Buying a home in Manhattan Beach
Housing ranges from beach cottages and townhomes in El Porto and the Sand Section to large single-family homes in the Hill and Tree Sections and mid-century houses east of Sepulveda. Much of the older housing has been rebuilt or remodeled, so condition and lot size drive price as much as location. The live numbers at the top of this page show what’s for sale right now. For the full picture, browse every Manhattan Beach home for sale or ask Jesse for recent sales on a specific street.
Frequently asked questions
What school district serves Manhattan Beach?
Manhattan Beach Unified School District serves the entire city, with five elementary schools, Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School. Confirm the school assignment for a specific address with the district.
How far is Manhattan Beach from LAX?
Downtown Manhattan Beach is about 6 miles from LAX by road. Travel time depends heavily on traffic.
What are the main neighborhoods in Manhattan Beach?
The best-known areas are the Sand Section, the Tree Section, the Hill Section, East Manhattan Beach (including Manhattan Heights and Liberty Village), the gated Manhattan Village and El Porto.
When is the Manhattan Beach farmers market?
The downtown farmers market runs on Tuesdays from 11am to 3pm at the Civic Center, off 15th Street.
