| El Segundo | Manhattan Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house sale | $1.76M | $3.85M |
| Median price per sq ft | $928 | $1,534 |
| Home styles | 1920s and 1930s bungalows and Spanish-style cottages, mid-century and 1950s ranch homes, two-story rebuilds; townhomes and condos near downtown | Modern and Cape Cod-style rebuilds in the Sand Section, Strand homes, large new homes in the Tree Section, Hill Section view homes; mid-century homes and townhomes in East Manhattan |
| Typical lots and terrain | Modest lots on a flat, tree-lined grid; higher ground with some ocean views near the west edge | Narrow sloping lots near the sand, some on car-free lanes; bigger lots inland; sloping view streets |
| City | Its own city | Its own city; much of the Sand Section in the Coastal Zone |
| Signature streets and anchors | Main Street, Old Town Music Hall, Smoky Hollow, El Segundo Beach | The pier and Roundhouse Aquarium, the Strand, downtown at Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Village |
| Getting around | Sepulveda through town, the 105 and 405 nearby; Metro K Line at Mariposa, El Segundo and Douglas | Sepulveda and the 405 north and south; Metro K Line a short drive east, including Douglas |
| Drive times (rough, off-peak) | LAX often 5 to 10 minutes, Westside 20 to 35 | LAX often 10 to 20 minutes, Westside 25 to 40 |
| Weather | Coastal: mild year-round, marine layer in late spring and early summer | Beach weather: cool summers, marine layer, ocean breeze |
| Eat drink shop highlights | Jame Enoteca, Kagura, Uncle Stevey's Bagels, Little Sister | Fishing With Dynamite, Manhattan Beach Post, The Arthur J, Uncle Bill's Pancake House |
Median prices: Redfin Data Center, zip codes 90245 and 90266, March to May 2026. Zip codes don't match neighborhood borders exactly.
The homes
El Segundo is a small city, and most homes sit west of Sepulveda Boulevard on a grid of tree-lined streets: 1920s and 1930s bungalows and Spanish-style cottages near downtown, then mid-century homes and 1950s ranch houses farther out. Lots are modest, and many originals have been expanded or replaced with two-story modern and traditional builds. Townhomes, condos and small apartment buildings sit closer to downtown, and streets near the western edge sit on higher ground, with some ocean views.
Manhattan Beach goes by sections. The Sand Section, closest to the ocean, has narrow lots on the slope above the beach, some on car-free lanes, where original cottages have largely given way to modern and Cape Cod-style rebuilds, many three stories with roof decks. Strand homes face the beach path directly. The Tree Section has bigger lots on leafy streets with large new homes, the Hill Section has view homes on sloping streets, and East Manhattan has more mid-century homes, rebuilds, townhomes and condos.
Prices
The price figures on this page use 90245 for El Segundo and 90266 for Manhattan Beach, and each zip covers its whole city. In Manhattan Beach, the section matters a lot: a Strand home, a Tree Section rebuild and an East Manhattan townhome sit at very different levels. In El Segundo, the gap is mostly between original homes and newer two-story rebuilds on similar lots.
The feel
El Segundo's downtown is Main Street, with restaurants, coffee and bars, and the historic Old Town Music Hall a block away on Richmond Street. Smoky Hollow, the old industrial district east of Main, is now creative offices, workshops, breweries and restaurants, and large aerospace and media campuses sit east of Sepulveda. El Segundo Beach is a short drive west, with Dockweiler State Beach to the north.
Manhattan Beach centers on the sand. The Roundhouse Aquarium sits at the end of the pier, the Strand runs along the beach with separate paths for bikes and pedestrians, and downtown around Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard has a few compact blocks of restaurants, coffee, boutiques and surf shops. Manhattan Village covers errands and bigger stores, and Polliwog Park has a pond, lawns and summer concerts.
Getting around
Sepulveda Boulevard and the 405 run through both, and the beach bike path connects El Segundo Beach to the Manhattan Beach Strand. El Segundo sits right next to LAX, often 5 to 10 minutes away, with the Metro K Line at Mariposa, El Segundo and Douglas stations and the Westside often 20 to 35 minutes. From Manhattan Beach, LAX is often 10 to 20 minutes and the Westside 25 to 40, with the Douglas station a short drive east. Since the LAX/Metro Transit Center opened in June 2025, the K Line runs straight to the airport area, and the people mover to the terminals is set for January 2027. Beach parking in Manhattan Beach fills up fast on summer weekends.
City and rules
Both are their own cities, so permits, zoning and building rules go through the City of El Segundo or the City of Manhattan Beach, not the City of LA. Much of Manhattan Beach's Sand Section sits in the California Coastal Zone, which can add review time for new construction and major remodels, and narrow lots mean checking parking, alley access and shared walls carefully. In El Segundo, aircraft noise varies by street and wind direction, and a large Chevron refinery occupies the south part of the city, so spend time at any home at different hours. Verify transfer taxes and fees with each city and the county before you close.
Weather
Both get mild coastal weather, with morning marine layer in late spring and early summer and comfortable temperatures most of the year. Manhattan Beach's Sand Section, right on the water, gets the most ocean breeze, while inland blocks in either city can run a little warmer on summer afternoons.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between El Segundo and Manhattan Beach?
El Segundo is a small city of 1920s to 1950s bungalows and ranch homes on modest lots around Main Street, next to LAX. Manhattan Beach runs down to the sand, with narrow Sand Section lots and three-story rebuilds near the beach, bigger Tree Section lots and Hill Section view homes.
Is El Segundo part of Manhattan Beach?
No. El Segundo and Manhattan Beach are separate incorporated cities that share a border, with El Segundo to the north between LAX and Manhattan Beach. Each has its own permits, zoning and building rules.
How far is El Segundo from Manhattan Beach?
They share a border, so downtown Manhattan Beach is often about 10 minutes from El Segundo's Main Street by car outside rush hour. The beach bike path also runs from El Segundo Beach south to Manhattan Beach.
