Hermosa Beach, CA Properties | Metro Realty Advisors

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Hermosa Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California, located along the Santa Monica Bay in the South Bay region. It is the middle of the three Beach Cities, positioned between Manhattan Beach to the north and Redondo Beach to the south. Covering only 1.4 square miles and home to nearly 20,000 residents, it is one of the most compact and densely settled coastal communities in the region, with the Pacific Ocean forming its western boundary. The city fronts almost two miles of coastline and contains roughly 94 acres of public beach, known for consistent surf and a strong beach-volleyball tradition. Hermosa Beach is notable as the only one of the three Beach Cities that owns its own beach, the others being county-owned. The Strand, the paved oceanfront path that runs through the city, is part of the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail connecting the beaches of the greater Los Angeles coast. Hermosa Beach grew from a turn-of-the-century seaside community, and its identity has long been tied to surfing and beach culture. The Hermosa Beach Pier, built out over the water, remains a central landmark and gathering place, anchoring a lively downtown of restaurants, bars, and shops. The city's history as a hub of surf and skate culture is documented by the Hermosa Beach Museum and local historical society. Education in Hermosa Beach is provided by the city's own Hermosa Beach City School District for grades TK through 8, established in 1904. High school students choose between Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach. For residents, Hermosa Beach offers an intensely coastal, active lifestyle in one of the most desirable beachfront settings in the Los Angeles area.

Population 19,506

County Los Angeles County

Active Listings 121

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Hermosa Beach in?

Hermosa Beach is a city in Los Angeles County, California, in the South Bay region along the Santa Monica Bay. It is one of the three Beach Cities, together with Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach.

What school district serves Hermosa Beach?

Hermosa Beach operates its own Hermosa Beach City School District for transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. For high school, students may attend Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach or Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach.

How big is Hermosa Beach?

Hermosa Beach covers about 1.4 square miles and has nearly two miles of Pacific Ocean frontage with roughly 94 acres of public beach. It is the smallest and most centrally located of the three South Bay Beach Cities.

What is Hermosa Beach known for?

Hermosa Beach is known for its surf and beach-volleyball culture, the Hermosa Beach Pier, and The Strand, a paved oceanfront path that is part of the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail. It is the only Beach City that owns its own beach.

What are the three Beach Cities?

The three Beach Cities are Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, which line the South Bay coast of Los Angeles County. They share a stretch of Santa Monica Bay known for its beaches, surfing, and oceanfront communities.

City Guide

About Hermosa Beach

Real Estate & Housing

Hermosa Beach's housing market is shaped by its extraordinarily small footprint of just 1.4 square miles. The stock is a mix of beach cottages, older bungalows, and newer custom homes, many on compact lots near the water or The Strand, with hillside properties offering ocean views in the city's eastern sections. Because the city is nearly built out, new construction is limited and supply is constrained, making it one of the more tightly held housing markets in the South Bay. The character is dense, coastal, and walkable, with the premium placed on proximity to the beach and the Strand rather than on large lot sizes.

Neighborhoods

Hermosa Beach is a compact city whose geography divides into a few recognizable zones. The flat, beachside area near the Pier and The Strand is the most sought-after, home to beach cottages, walk-streets, and the city's commercial core. Moving inland, the terrain rises into the Hermosa Hills, where homes climb the slopes and many capture ocean and coastline views. The city's eastern edge, near Pacific Coast Highway and the border with Redondo Beach, offers slightly larger lots. Despite these variations, the entire city is walkable and connected, with the beach functioning as the unifying center of community life.

Lifestyle in Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach is defined by beach culture. Surfing, beach volleyball, skateboarding, and cycling are woven into daily life, with the Hermosa Beach Pier and The Strand serving as the community's social and recreational spine. The paved oceanfront path is constantly in use by walkers, joggers, and cyclists, and the sand is lined with volleyball nets. The city's compact downtown and pier area offer dining, bars, and shops within steps of the water, giving Hermosa Beach a walkable, energetic, and distinctly Southern Californian rhythm. Residents embrace an outdoor, active lifestyle shaped by nearly year-round sunshine and the Pacific at their doorstep.

Schools & Education

Hermosa Beach operates the Hermosa Beach City School District, which has served the community since 1904 and educates students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. For high school, Hermosa Beach students have a choice: they may attend Mira Costa High School in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District or Redondo Union High School in the Redondo Beach Unified School District. This arrangement gives the city local control over its elementary and middle grades while providing access to two established South Bay high schools. The district's long history and the community's small scale contribute to a close connection between local schools and residents.

Getting Around

Hermosa Beach is served by Pacific Coast Highway, which runs along the city's eastern edge and connects it to the rest of the South Bay and greater Los Angeles. The Strand and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail provide a car-free north-south route along the coast for cyclists and pedestrians. Los Angeles International Airport lies a short distance to the north, and the city's dense, walkable layout means many residents reach the beach, pier, and downtown on foot or by bike. As in much of Southern California, commuting beyond the immediate area is primarily by car, with regional freeways accessible nearby.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Hermosa Beach centers on the ocean and the beachfront. Surfing is the community's signature activity, with the beach known for consistent waves, while the wide, flat sand hosts volleyball nets that make Hermosa Beach a hub of the sport. The Strand, part of the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail, offers a continuous route for walking, running, cycling, and rollerblading along the coast. The Hermosa Beach Pier provides fishing, strolling, and ocean views. Beyond the beach, the city's parks and its proximity to the broader South Bay and greater Los Angeles recreation network round out a lifestyle built around the outdoors.

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