Monterey Peninsula
Seaside
"The Peninsula's most vibrant and accessible community." Coastal living, cultural diversity, and real estate value, all in one place.
OVERVIEW
A City in Active Reinvention
Stretching along the northern Monterey Peninsula between Sand City and Marina, Seaside is the most diverse, most youthful, and most dynamic city on the Peninsula. The 8.9-square-mile community blends genuine coastal access, championship golf, miles of protected trails, and the strongest cultural mix in Monterey County, all at a price point that opens the door for first-time buyers, growing families, and long-term investors.
Built next to the former Fort Ord Army base and now home to California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), Seaside is undergoing the most significant transformation of any Peninsula city. The Fort Ord Campus Town redevelopment (~120 acres of new mixed-use construction), CSUMB's 7,000-student growth engine, and the Bayonet & Black Horse championship golf courses give Seaside something no other Peninsula city has: real upside.
~31,524
POPULATION
8.9 sq mi
AREA
~$839.6K
MEDIAN sale PRICE
79/100
COMPETE SCORE
Source: U.S. Census ACS (2020-2024), Redfin (April 2026), Niche.com
MARKET TRENDS for single family homes
Seaside Real Estate Market
$818,980
Median Est. Property Value
2.82
Months of Inventory
11 Sold
Closed Last Month
100.4%
Sold-to-List Price Ratio
What this means: Seaside is the most competitive entry-level coastal market on the Peninsula, with a Redfin Compete Score of 79/100. Inventory turns inside five weeks, hot homes move in under two, and more than a third of sales beat asking price. Prices appreciated 1.8% year over year while closed sales grew 13.8%. The story is real: first-time buyers, CSUMB faculty, military families, healthcare workers, and Silicon Valley investors are all competing for the same homes. Sellers need pricing tied to live micro-comps, not city-wide medians. That precision is exactly what Prep. Price. Present.™ is built to deliver.
LIFESTYLE
What It's Like to Live Here
Fort Ord National Monument
7,200 acres of protected open space with 86 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use. One of the most underrated outdoor recreation assets on the entire Central Coast.
Bayonet & Black Horse Golf
Two championship 18-hole courses inside city limits. The Bayonet Course has hosted multiple USGA events. Greens fees run a fraction of Pebble Beach for comparable design quality.
Laguna Grande Regional Park
A 35-acre freshwater lake park with walking trails, fishing, and picnic areas. One of the few freshwater recreation spots on the Peninsula, popular with families and birders year-round.
Broadway Avenue Dining
Latino, Filipino, Korean, and international restaurants line Broadway Avenue, reflecting the city's status as the most ethnically diverse community in Monterey County. The food scene the rest of the Peninsula quietly drives over for.
For Buyers
Buying a Home in Seaside
Areas to Know
Laguna Grande: Walkable neighborhood around the freshwater lake park, mix of established homes and condos with park-front lots.
Del Monte Heights: Hillside homes with bay views, mature trees, and quiet residential streets above the city.
Ord Grove / Olympia: Established neighborhoods near CSUMB, popular with faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Cabrillo: Walkable central neighborhood close to Broadway dining and city amenities.
Campus Town (Coming): The ~120-acre Fort Ord redevelopment bringing mixed-use construction, retail, and new housing inventory through the next decade.
Home Styles & Inventory
Expect 1950s and 1960s ranch homes (legacy of the Fort Ord era), mid-century cottages closer to the coast, condos and townhomes around CSUMB and Broadway, hillside homes with bay views in Del Monte Heights, and increasing supply of new construction tied to the Campus Town redevelopment. Inventory turns fast across every price band.
What to Watch For
The former Fort Ord boundary requires environmental disclosure on certain parcels. Confirm property history with a qualified agent.
Coastal Commission rules apply for properties west of Highway 1.
Hot homes sell in 12 days at above-asking prices. Be financing-ready and offer-strategy-ready before you tour.
Campus Town construction will affect specific corridors over the next 5 to 10 years. Pull the development map before you write.
FOR SELLERS
Selling a Home in Seaside
Who's Buying in Silicon Valley
Seaside draws the most diverse buyer pool on the Peninsula. First-time buyers priced out of Monterey and Pacific Grove, CSUMB faculty and staff, military families and veterans using VA loans near the former Fort Ord, healthcare workers at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and Silicon Valley investors targeting Seaside's strong rental market (64.6% renter rate, $2,409 median rent). The result: real competition across every price tier, with one in three sales closing above asking.
What Drives Premium Prices
Walkability to Broadway, Laguna Grande Park, or CSUMB
Bay or city-light views from Del Monte Heights and the upper streets
Single-family detached homes in the $700K to $1M sweet spot
Updated systems hidden inside mid-century architecture
Proximity to Campus Town's planned mixed-use centers
Our Approach
Seaside is not a single market. A Del Monte Heights view home sells differently than a Laguna Grande condo or an Ord Grove ranch. New construction tied to Campus Town competes with mid-century stock at very different price points. Pricing to the city-wide median is the fastest way to leave money on the table. Our method is built for exactly this kind of multi-segment market:=
Prep. Price. Present.™
Strategic prep that highlights what the right buyer values, pricing tied to live micro-comps inside your specific neighborhood and property type, and presentation that captures the lifestyle, not just the floor plan.
Schools
Seaside is served by Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD), 9,949 students across 23 schools with a district-wide 93.5% graduation rate. School ratings vary by school. Families should confirm assignment by exact address and explore charter and dual-language enrollment early.
Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula, K-8 (7/10 GreatSchools)
Del Rey Woods Elementary, K-6 (7/10 GreatSchools)
International School of Monterey, K-8 Charter (6/10 GreatSchools)
George C. Marshall Elementary, K-6 (6/10 GreatSchools)
Martin Luther King School, K-6 (5/10 GreatSchools)
Seaside Middle School, 7-8 (4/10 GreatSchools)
Seaside High School, 9-12 (6/10 GreatSchools)
Getting Around
To Monterey: 5 minutes via Highway 1
To Pacific Grove: 10 minutes
To Marina: 5 minutes
To Carmel-by-the-Sea: 15 minutes
To Monterey Regional Airport: 5 minutes
To San Jose / SJC: ~1.25 hours
To San Francisco / SFO: ~1.75 hours
FAQ
Seaside Questions Answered
Is Seaside a good place to live?
Yes. Niche.com ranks Seaside #8 Best Place to Live in Monterey County and gives it an A for Diversity. Residents point to the accessible coastal lifestyle, Fort Ord trails, Bayonet & Black Horse golf, the most diverse food scene on the Peninsula, and home prices that remain attainable.
How much does it cost to live in Seaside?
The median sale price is $839,577 as of April 2026, with the median owner-occupied home value at $787,100. Median rent runs about $2,409 per month. Smaller 2-bed homes start near $700K, and larger single-family homes on premium lots climb past $1.8M.
Is Seaside safe?
Seaside earns a C from Niche for Crime & Safety. Most residential neighborhoods, particularly Del Monte Heights and the streets above Highway 1, carry low reported crime. Areas near Broadway and the central commercial corridor see higher incident counts typical of denser urban districts. Confirm specifics by neighborhood.
What is Seaside known for?
The former Fort Ord Army base (now Fort Ord National Monument and CSUMB), the most diverse population on the Peninsula, Bayonet & Black Horse championship golf, Laguna Grande Regional Park, and the Broadway Avenue international dining corridor.
How far is Seaside from Monterey, Carmel, and San Jose?
Monterey is 5 minutes south. Marina is 5 minutes north. Pacific Grove is 10 minutes. Carmel-by-the-Sea is about 15 minutes. San Jose runs roughly 75 minutes north on Highway 101, and San Francisco about 1.75 hours.
What is the Seaside real estate market like right now?
Very competitive. Redfin scores the market 79/100 on the Compete Score. Homes sell in 35 days at 99.2% of list, hot homes move in 12 days, and 35.5% of sales close above asking. Closed sales grew 13.8% year over year.
Are there short-term rental restrictions in Seaside?
The City of Seaside regulates short-term rentals through municipal code and permit requirements. Rules differ from Carmel-by-the-Sea (which bans most STRs) and Pacific Grove (which caps them). Verify current rules with the City of Seaside before purchasing for vacation rental use.
What is the Fort Ord Campus Town redevelopment?
Campus Town is a ~120-acre mixed-use redevelopment of former Fort Ord land near CSUMB, bringing new housing, retail, office, and community space to Seaside over the next decade. The project is one of the most significant economic drivers on the Peninsula and is already affecting home values in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Thinking About Seaside?
Whether you're buying your first home, investing in a rental property, or selling a Seaside home you've held for years, this market rewards local expertise and fast execution. Let's talk about your goals.
Let's Connect
Book Your One-on-One
Strategy Session
Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or building wealth through real estate — a personalized strategy session is the best place to start. No pressure. Just clarity.
Phone
Email
Address
29251 Highway 1, Carmel, CA 93923
Monterey County • Silicon Valley
© 2026 The Ruiz Group. All rights reserved.
Terms of Services | Privacy Policy
The Ruiz Group of Keller Williams Realty
Team Leader: Pete Ruiz | DRE #01974535
Managing Broker: Dan Hill | DRE #01350268