Manhattan Beach Named Among Best Places To Live In California By Research Firm

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach is one of the best places to live in California, according to a new ranking by research firm Niche.

Niche, which specializes in data-driven methods to rank schools and neighborhoods, analyzed places of various sizes in its 2026 Best Places to Live in California ranking.

Manhattan Beach came in at no. 54. However, it was Santa Monica that dominated the top of the list, with its neighborhoods taking the no. 5 (City Center), 9 (Mid-City), 14 (Ocean Park), 21 (Sunset Park, 29 (Wilshire/Montana) and 35 (Northeast) spots.

The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.

The complete Best Places to Live in California list is available on the Niche website.