About 20 miles from bustling Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach is that laid-back beach town from the movies. This one-square-mile town on the Pacific is known for its surfing and beach volleyball, and its Pier Avenue district attracts more than a million visitors a year. This seaside downtown has been featured in “La La Land” and “Westworld,” but it’s just a part of life for locals. Besides their proximity to the waves, these 20,000 residents are likely in walking distance to the district’s nightlife, restaurants and shops. It may have a lot of tourists, but this diverse community of families, professionals and retirees often comes together for downtown fun. Fiesta Hermosa is one of the biggest, a three-day festival in May with a carnival, beer garden, beach concert and more. Other events include the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Spyder Surf Fest and Hermosa Beach Triathlon, and over 280 days of sun means there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy them.
Hermosa Beach is a 2 mile long beach with everything a beach has to offer.
Downtown Hermosa Beach is known for its large square and pedestrian only street.
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Enjoying the sun on the Strand, beach volleyball
When people think of Hermosa Beach, white sand and clear water might be the first things that come to mind. The second thing will likely be the Strand, an oceanside route that connects with nearby Redondo and Manhattan. This 20-mile-long path is popular with walkers, bikers, rollerbladers and just about anybody not in a car, and travelers can watch beach volleyballers on their way. They might even hop into a game with the famously good locals, or in July, witness the Hermosa Beach Open. This event by the Association of Volleyball Professionals is one of the biggest in the sport, where men’s and women’s teams compete for championship titles. For a quieter atmosphere, Valley Park is a mile up the coast, and its five acres make it the largest and most popular park in town. The city’s parks department hosts classes here, and its Pets in the Park event brings a dog parade. The park also connects to the Green Belt, a 4-mile wooded trail that runs parallel to Ardmore Avenue and Valley Drive.
Play volleyball with friends at one of the many courts in Hermosa Beach, CA.
Take a bike ride down the strand from Hermosa Beach, CA to either Redondo or Manhattan Beach.
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Pier Avenue and downtown events
A half-mile-long district that runs from State Route 1 to the Pacific Ocean, Pier Avenue is where locals go to eat, drink and be merry. They might grab a casual taco and walk a couple blocks to an upscale Italian place, or they might try a margarita and watch the sunset on the beach. Some of these locally owned restaurants have been around since the 1950s, and iconic spots include the Lighthouse Café’s jazz club and Java Man’s bungalow coffee house. While nightlife enthusiasts can find about 15 bars toward the pier, shoppers might opt for the handful of clothing boutiques, and organic buyers can check out the farmer’s market every Wednesday. Vendors usually line this street during community events, known as the Makers Mercado during Fiesta Hermosa.
Go shopping at Spyder Surfboards on Pier Ave in Hermosa Beach, CA.
Stroll down Pier Avenue at Hermosa Beach, a major downtown road lined with shopping and dining.
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Hermosa Beach City School District gets an A
A major draw for homebuyers, this city has its own school district. Hermosa Beach City School District receives an A from Niche and serves 1,300 students across four campuses. This unique system sends children to Hermosa View School for transitional kindergarten through first grade, while second through fourth graders advance to Hermosa Vista School. From there, Hermosa Valley Schools leads fifth through eighth grade, but high school students have to enroll outside of the district. Common options are Mira Costa High and Redondo Union High, both rated an A-plus by Niche. While major universities aren’t in Hermosa Beach, El Camino College and Loyola Marymount University are within 10 miles.
Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, CA is a Gold Ribbon School.
Hermosa View Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hermosa Beach, CA.
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Pricier homes close to the Pacific Ocean
Hermosa Beach’s median sold price is $2,243,000 as of March 2024, making it one of the more expensive places to look in LA. But buyers can find a little of everything here: prices range between one and 20 million. The Hermosa Sands section, west of Valley Drive, holds most of the high-end properties, and these are often multilevel with water views. In between Ardmore Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway, the valley section is a quarter mile from the beach and hovers around two million. Homes in the hills section, east of the PCH, are a quarter mile farther. These narrow two-stories usually have less square footage and are priced below two million.
Large homes line the beach at Hermosa Beach.
Modern and midcentury homes are fashionable in Hermosa Beach and California as a whole.
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Crime reports in Hermosa Beach
According to the FBI, Hermosa Beach had 590 reported crimes in 2022. Violent crimes made up 55 of these, a 17% increase from 2020’s report. Similarly, property crimes made up 535 of these, and this was a 13% increase. Nearby Redondo Beach had a 10% increase in property crime and a 69% increase in violent crime, too.
Pacific Coast considerations, water regulation
Along with other coastal communities in Los Angeles, residents experience life-threatening rip currents during swells. In August 2023, waves reached 20 feet during morning high tide, and LA County issued a high surf and coastal flood warning for the area. Hermosa Beach’s pier can shut down during these swells or other instances of heavy rain. As part of ongoing water conservation efforts, the city prohibits driveway watering and limits landscape watering to evening hours.
Walkability and the Pacific Coast Highway
Since this town is only a square mile and has sidewalks, residents can walk pretty much anywhere. Bikers can use the Strand to get around, or they might use the dedicated lanes on Hermosa and Pier Avenues. Car traffic can get busy in the summer with tourists, but it’s not as crammed as the 405 nearby. Pacific Coast Highway, also known as State Route 1, leads residents 5 miles north to Los Angeles International Airport. They might use the Metrolink Rail for this trip, as the Green Line has a station in nearby Redondo Beach. They can make a connection with the Red Line to get to downtown Los Angeles in about an hour.
As a third generation real estate professional in Southern California, and an active volunteer and philanthropist in my community, nothing makes me happier than to find my clients their dream home in the South Bay where I grew up and have raised my family. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area and my first hand knowledge of the local school districts, neighborhoods and commercial areas helps my buyers and sellers feel confident about their real estate decisions. My clients also have the advantage of access to my real estate partner's 50+ years of experience and expertise in all areas of the real estate transaction. We look forward to working with you to sell your home or find you your next dream home!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
