The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in California

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 358 towns of 500–10,000 people in California. #1 is Fort Bragg, CA.

1. 25Myrtletown, California

   More seaside character than 95% of California towns

   Myrtletown is a community of 4,882 people in Humboldt County, California. It also ranks better for retirees than 86% of California towns and hipper than 86% of California towns.

   4,882 people · Humboldt County · median home $453,400 · income $60,457 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Myrtletown, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Camp Pendleton Mainside, California

   More seaside character than 95% of California towns

   Camp Pendleton Mainside is a community of 9,683 people in San Diego County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 92% of California towns and more of a college town than 78% of California towns.

   9,683 people · San Diego County · median home — · income $61,575 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

   Full Camp Pendleton Mainside, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Bertsch-Oceanview, California

   More seaside character than 96% of California towns

   Bertsch-Oceanview is a community of 2,520 people in Del Norte County, California. It also ranks better transit than 73% of California towns and quieter than 72% of California towns.

   2,520 people · Del Norte County · median home $191,300 · income $73,173 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

   Full Bertsch-Oceanview, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Las Lomas, California

   More seaside character than 96% of California towns

   Las Lomas is a community of 3,046 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks easier by car than 89% of California towns.

   3,046 people · Monterey County · median home $687,300 · income $86,775 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

   Full Las Lomas, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Santa Venetia, California

   More seaside character than 96% of California towns

   Santa Venetia is a community of 4,289 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of California towns and better for retirees than 93% of California towns.

   4,289 people · Marin County · median home $1,006,300 · income $126,833 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

   Full Santa Venetia, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20La Selva Beach, California

   More seaside character than 97% of California towns

   La Selva Beach is a community of 2,531 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of California towns and better for retirees than 96% of California towns.

   2,531 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,325,700 · income $160,833 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

   Full La Selva Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Channel Islands Beach, California

   More seaside character than 97% of California towns

   Channel Islands Beach is a community of 2,870 people in Ventura County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns and better for young professionals than 89% of California towns.

   2,870 people · Ventura County · median home $1,111,200 · income $107,380 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

   Full Channel Islands Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Pajaro, California

   More seaside character than 97% of California towns

   Pajaro is a community of 2,882 people in Monterey County, California. The median home is worth $750,000 (typical California town: $596,900).

   2,882 people · Monterey County · median home $750,000 · income $84,875 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

   Full Pajaro, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Strawberry, California

   More seaside character than 97% of California towns

   Strawberry is a community of 5,447 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks better for young professionals than 97% of California towns and more of a college town than 96% of California towns.

   5,447 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $157,661 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

   Full Strawberry, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Cambria, California

    More seaside character than 97% of California towns

    

    Cambria is a community of 5,678 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns and better for retirees than 95% of California towns.

    5,678 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $930,200 · income $99,147 · Jan low 47°F · 0 in snow

    Full Cambria, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Tiburon, California

    More seaside character than 97% of California towns

    

    Tiburon is a town of 9,146 people in Marin County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 97% of California towns and better for retirees than 96% of California towns.

    9,146 people · Marin County · median home $2,000,001 · income $232,969 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full Tiburon, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Bayview, California

    More seaside character than 98% of California towns

    Bayview is a community of 2,619 people in Humboldt County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of California towns and better transit than 95% of California towns.

    2,619 people · Humboldt County · median home $416,400 · income $48,406 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Bayview, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13El Granada, California

    More seaside character than 98% of California towns

    El Granada is a community of 5,481 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more upscale than 93% of California towns and better transit than 86% of California towns.

    5,481 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,424,700 · income $213,347 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full El Granada, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Crescent City, California

    More seaside character than 98% of California towns

    Crescent City is a city of 6,673 people in Del Norte County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of California towns.

    6,673 people · Del Norte County · median home $306,500 · income $35,540 · Jan low 42°F · 0 in snow

    Full Crescent City, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Cayucos, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    Cayucos is a community of 2,505 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of California towns and better for retirees than 97% of California towns.

    2,505 people · San Luis Obispo County · median home $1,011,900 · income $87,235 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Cayucos, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Montara, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    

    Montara is a community of 2,833 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of California towns and better for cycling than 95% of California towns.

    2,833 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,580,700 · income $233,826 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Montara, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Moss Beach, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    

    Moss Beach is a community of 3,214 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of California towns and better for cycling than 95% of California towns.

    3,214 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,123,100 · income $99,680 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Moss Beach, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Seacliff, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    Seacliff is a community of 3,280 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 94% of California towns.

    3,280 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,143,600 · income $130,385 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Seacliff, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7North Richmond, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    North Richmond is a community of 4,175 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks better transit than 95% of California towns and better for cycling than 75% of California towns.

    4,175 people · Contra Costa County · median home $623,900 · income $100,673 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full North Richmond, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Brisbane, California

    More seaside character than 99% of California towns

    Brisbane is a city of 4,851 people in San Mateo County, California. It also ranks better transit than 97% of California towns and hipper than 91% of California towns.

    4,851 people · San Mateo County · median home $1,232,200 · income $156,169 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Brisbane, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Montalvin Manor, California

    More seaside character than 100% of California towns

    Montalvin Manor is a community of 3,099 people in Contra Costa County, California. It also ranks more of a college town than 100% of California towns and more walkable than 92% of California towns.

    3,099 people · Contra Costa County · median home $438,600 · income $79,542 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full Montalvin Manor, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

    More seaside character than 100% of California towns

    Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city of 3,220 people in Monterey County, California. It also ranks hipper than 99% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 99% of California towns.

    3,220 people · Monterey County · median home $2,000,001 · income $129,250 · Jan low 45°F · 0 in snow

    Full Carmel-by-the-Sea, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Avalon, California

    More seaside character than 100% of California towns

    Avalon is a city of 3,460 people in Los Angeles County, California. It also ranks better for cycling than 100% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 93% of California towns.

    3,460 people · Los Angeles County · median home $936,000 · income $105,139 · Jan low 50°F

    Full Avalon, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Pleasure Point, California

    More seaside character than 100% of California towns

    Pleasure Point is a community of 5,821 people in Santa Cruz County, California. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of California towns and hipper than 97% of California towns.

    5,821 people · Santa Cruz County · median home $1,183,600 · income $119,821 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Pleasure Point, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Fort Bragg, California

    More seaside character than 100% of California towns

    Fort Bragg is a city of 6,983 people in Mendocino County, California. It also ranks hipper than 92% of California towns and better for a vacation home than 85% of California towns.

    6,983 people · Mendocino County · median home $535,400 · income $56,481 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

    Full Fort Bragg, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More California rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Seaside Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New York
• The 16 Best Seaside Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey