| Manhattan Beach | Hermosa Beach | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house sale | $3.85M | $3M |
| Median condo sale | n/a | $880K |
| Median price per sq ft | $1,534 | $1,203 |
| Home styles | Modern and Cape Cod rebuilds in the Sand Section, large traditional and modern homes in the Tree Section, Hill Section view homes | Older beach cottages, newer two and three story homes with roof decks, townhomes and duplex-style condos |
| Typical lots and terrain | Narrow lots on the slope near the sand, bigger lots inland, hillside view streets | Compact lots throughout; land rises to hillside view streets on the east side |
| City | City of Manhattan Beach (its own city) | City of Hermosa Beach (its own city) |
| Signature streets and anchors | The pier and Roundhouse Aquarium, the Strand, downtown around Manhattan Ave | Pier Plaza, the Strand, the Greenbelt, the Lighthouse Cafe |
| Getting around | Sepulveda Blvd and the 405; Metro K Line a short drive east | Pacific Coast Highway through town; the 405 and K Line a short drive east |
| Drive times (rough, off-peak) | LAX often 10 to 20 minutes; Westside often 25 to 40 | LAX often 15 to 25 minutes; Westside often 30 to 45 |
| Weather | Coastal, mild year round, marine layer mornings | Coastal, mild year round, marine layer mornings |
| Eat drink shop highlights | Fishing With Dynamite, Manhattan Beach Post, The Arthur J | Vin Folk, Redwood Pie, Coni'Seafood |
Median prices: Redfin Data Center, zip codes 90266 and 90254, March to May 2026. Zip codes don't match neighborhood borders exactly.
The homes
Manhattan Beach goes by sections. The Sand Section sits on narrow lots on the slope above the beach, some on car-free lanes with garages off the alley, and most original cottages have given way to modern and Cape Cod style rebuilds, many three stories with roof decks. Strand homes face the beach path. Inland, the Tree Section has bigger lots on leafy streets, the Hill Section holds view homes, and East Manhattan adds mid-century homes, rebuilds, townhomes and condos.
Hermosa Beach is smaller, about 1.4 square miles, so lots are compact and homes sit close together. Older beach cottages stand next to two and three story homes with roof decks, and townhomes and duplex-style condos, often two units on one lot, are common. The land rises toward the east, where hillside streets hold view homes looking back to the ocean.
Prices
The price figures on this page use 90266 for Manhattan Beach and 90254 for Hermosa Beach, and each zip covers its whole city. In both, distance to the sand and views drive price more than anything. The mix matters too: Hermosa has many more townhomes and condos, so its overall figures blend a wider range of home types, while Manhattan Beach's larger inland lots add a different kind of single-family home to its numbers.
The feel
Manhattan Beach orients around its pier, with the Roundhouse Aquarium at the end and a compact downtown of restaurants, coffee and surf shops just up the hill. Manhattan Village covers bigger errands, and Sand Dune Park and Polliwog Park add green space.
Hermosa Beach centers on Pier Plaza, a car-free block of restaurants, bars and patios running onto the pier. The Greenbelt, a long, tree-shaded park on an old railroad right-of-way, runs through town, and volleyball nets line the sand. The Strand connects the two cities directly along the beach.
Getting around
Manhattan Beach has Sepulveda Boulevard and the 405 on its east side, with Rosecrans and Manhattan Beach Boulevard heading inland, and Metro K Line stations a short drive east. Hermosa has Pacific Coast Highway through the middle, with Aviation Boulevard and the 405 a short drive east. Beach parking in both fills up on summer weekends, and bikes handle plenty of local errands.
City and rules
Both are their own cities, so permits, zoning, height limits and parking requirements run through the City of Manhattan Beach and the City of Hermosa Beach, not the City of LA. Much of each sits in the California Coastal Zone. In Hermosa, many purchases involve shared lots or HOAs, so review HOA documents and any shared-wall or shared-driveway arrangements. Verify transfer taxes and fees with each city and the county.
Weather
The weather is effectively the same: mild, coastal and shaped by the ocean, with morning marine layer in late spring and early summer and far less summer heat than inland LA.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach?
Manhattan Beach is the larger city, with distinct sections from the Sand Section near the water to bigger lots in the Tree Section. Hermosa Beach covers about 1.4 square miles, with compact lots, townhomes and duplex-style condos and a car-free plaza leading to its pier.
Are Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach part of Los Angeles?
No. Both are separate incorporated cities in Los Angeles County, each with its own permits, zoning and building rules. Much of each city near the water also sits in the California Coastal Zone, which can add review time for projects.
Which is closer to LAX, Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach?
Manhattan Beach sits just to the north, so it is a little closer. LAX is often 10 to 20 minutes from Manhattan Beach outside rush hour, and often 15 to 25 minutes from Hermosa Beach.
