Section Image

Encinal Bluffs

Encinal Bluffs

Neighborhood in Malibu, California

Los Angeles County 90265

$5,466,931 Average Value
$3,409 Average Price per Sq Ft
14 Homes For Sale

An exclusive Malibu coastal community

In Western Malibu, right along the Pacific Coast Highway at Encinal Canyon Road, the cliffside enclave of Encinal Bluffs is a long line of gated, multi-million-dollar mansions that overlook the Pacific Ocean. Famous former neighbors include Brad Pitt, Ellen DeGeneres and Leonardo DiCaprio. “It’s a fabulous neighborhood. Despite its popularity with A-listers, though, it’s a friendly small-town community that protects exclusivity and privacy,” says Susan Monus, a Realtor at Coldwater Banker Realty who's lived and sold homes in Malibu for 35 years. Like the rest of Malibu, Encinal Bluffs is served by top-rated schools and has a low CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10.

Gated estates with private access to the Pacific Ocean

Estates here are set in individually gated compounds on multi-acre lots and sprawl from 4,000 to 20,000 square feet. All have unobstructed Pacific Ocean views and private staircases that meander down the bluffs to secluded beaches and hidden coves. Many homes date to the 1970s and '80s, and architectural styles range from Mediterranean mansions to Cape Cod-style retreats with wood-shingle siding. Prices range from about $10 million to upward of $25 million, and the neighborhood is in high demand; the average sale price rose by 122% between early 2024 and early 2025.

One of the highest rated school districts in Los Angeles

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District earns an overall A-plus from Niche. Kids might start out at Malibu Elementary, advance to Malibu Middle and finish up at Malibu High; each school earns an A or higher from Niche. Malibu High stands out for its high graduation rate and strong STEM and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Just north of Malibu High, private Pepperdine University sits on an 830-acre campus overlooking the ocean, and is known for its business, law and public policy programs.

Nearby tide pools, surfing and hiking trails

Charmlee Wilderness Park is located across from Encinal Bluffs along Encinal Canyon Road, and offers more than 600 acres of hiking trails, wildflower fields and ocean views. El Matador State Beach is less than a mile away and at the bottom of a long wooden staircase, featuring dramatic sea stacks and tide pools. Leo Carillo State Beach, about 3 miles away, is one of Malibu's most popular surfing spots.

Area shopping and dining at Trancas Canyon Market and Malibu Village

The closest shopping and dining is about 6 miles away, across from Broad Beach at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Trancas Canyon Road. There's a Starbucks here, as well as the Malibu Brewing Company beer garden and Trancas Country Market, a small retail complex that includes the gourmet Vintage Grocers. Malibu Colony Plaza is about 11 miles away, with a Ralph's Fresh Fare grocery store, a CVS and popular eateries like Zinque, a French bistro. Malibu Village is about a mile farther, with beach-chic clothing and home decor, indoor-outdoor restaurants like Taverna Tony and an outpost of popular L.A. chain Alfred Coffee.

Pacific Coast Highway leads to Downtown Santa Monica and Interstate 10

Pacific Coast Highway (locally known as "PCH") runs alongside the community, leading about 25 miles southeast to Downtown Santa Monica and Interstate 10 (locally known as "the 10.") Downtown Los Angeles is 44 miles away via PCH and the 10. California Route 23 is just across PCH from Encinal Bluffs, and leads about 14 miles over the hill to Westlake Village and U.S. Highway 101. UCLA Health Malibu Primary Care is about 13 miles away, while the closest major hospitals, Santa Monica UCLA and Providence Saint John's, are in Downtown Santa Monica. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 36 miles away, a roughly one-hour trip. For private air travel, Van Nuys Airport is about 43 miles away.

Wildfire risk and high insurance premiums

According to Monus, the recent Pacific Palisades fire impacted Eastern Malibu, but not Western Malibu, where Encinal Bluffs is located. The area's risk of wildfire damage remains high, however, so fire insurance is crucial but pricey, with annual premiums often exceeding $50,000. Residents are encouraged to landscape with fire-resistant plants, sign up for CalFire emergency alerts and keep “go bags” ready.

Braxton Chea
Written By
Braxton Chea
Derrick Harvey
Photography Contributed By
Derrick Harvey

Agents Specializing in this Area

See All Agents

Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Michelle Schwartz, an experienced agent in this area.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Los Angeles International

57 min drive

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Encinal Bluffs US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 1 4
Robbery 1 4
Burglary 1 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 1 4
Larceny 1 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$9,425,000
Median Single Family Price
$8,911,500
Median Townhouse Price
$4,500,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$3,409
Number of Homes for Sale
14
Last 12 months Home Sales
10
Months of Supply
16.80
Median List Price
$8,998,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
16%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
35%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
234
Median Year Built
1974
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,397
Significantly above the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,992
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,801

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to Michelle Schwartz, an experienced agent in this area.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
502
Median Age
60
Population under 18
11.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
38.2%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$149,999
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$175,195

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
98.6%
College Graduates
68.1%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
31.2%
% Population in Labor Force
43.6%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
15''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

8 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

5 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Reviews

Are you familiar with the Encinal Bluffs neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Encinal Bluffs