Manhattan Beach is an affluent beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the waves can get as big as 12 feet (3.7 m). It is one of the three Beach Cities in the South Bay. In the past 15 years, it has become home to professional athletes such as Lisa Leslie, Maria Sharapova, Tiger Woods, Mike Richards and Blake Griffin.
Manhattan Beach is within commuting distance of Los Angeles and therefore one of the most expensive coastal towns in America, according to the most recent Fortune Magazine rankings. The median price of a single family dwelling greatly exceeds the already high Los Angeles County median price by well over 100%. Property in Manhattan Beach is exceptionally expensive when considering the size of land for sale. In comparison, a half acre of land in Bel-Air is valued at $20 million, while a half acre of land on the Strand in Manhattan Beach is valued at $35 million. Homes with an ocean view often exceed $5 million in cost.
Manhattan Beach and the local high school, Mira Costa High School, were the real-life film locations for the popular TV show The O.C.