Is Seaside Still The Monterey Peninsula’s Best Value Buy?
May 21, 2026
May 21, 2026
Wondering whether Seaside is still the Monterey Peninsula’s best value buy? If you have been priced out of nearby coastal markets or you want a smarter entry point without leaving the Peninsula, that question matters. The short answer is yes, but with an important caveat: Seaside looks strongest as a total-price value play, not always as a pure price-per-square-foot bargain. Let’s dive in.
If you compare Seaside with nearby Peninsula cities, it continues to offer one of the lower entry points in the area. Redfin’s March 2026 closed-sale median put Seaside at $860,000, compared with $875,000 in Monterey, $884,500 in Marina, and $1.36 million in Pacific Grove. Zillow’s April 30, 2026 typical home value data showed an even wider gap, with Seaside at $800,821 versus $876,707 in Marina, $1,189,607 in Monterey, and $1,438,129 in Pacific Grove.
These numbers tell an important story. Seaside is still meaningfully below Monterey and Pacific Grove on both major data sets. Compared with Marina, the discount is narrower, but Seaside still comes in lower on both sources.
This is where many buyers can get tripped up. If you look only at price per square foot, Seaside is not always the obvious bargain some expect. Redfin reported Seaside at $688 per square foot, Monterey at $693, Marina at $571, and Pacific Grove at $1.01K.
That means Seaside is almost tied with Monterey on a per-foot basis and actually higher than Marina on that metric. So if your goal is the lowest possible cost per square foot, Seaside may not win that comparison. But if your goal is a lower overall purchase price on the Peninsula, Seaside still makes a strong case.
For many buyers, value is not about finding the cheapest number in every category. It is about balancing location, budget, market competition, and future potential. On that front, Seaside still checks a lot of boxes.
Redfin’s competition score for Seaside was 59, or somewhat competitive. That is lower than Monterey at 73, Marina at 70, and Pacific Grove at 70, all of which were rated very competitive. In practical terms, that can mean a little more breathing room for buyers, even when inventory remains limited.
A market can feel like a value and still be competitive. Zillow showed 37 active listings in Seaside, compared with 45 in Marina, 77 in Monterey, and 45 in Pacific Grove. That suggests Seaside inventory is still relatively tight, even if it is not the tightest market on the Peninsula.
For you as a buyer, that means preparation still matters. A lower entry point does not automatically mean easy shopping. You may still need to move quickly when a well-priced home hits the market.
Recent performance depends on which data set you follow, and both offer useful context. Redfin’s March 2026 closed-sale data showed Seaside up 4.9% year over year, with a median market time of 37 days. That compares with Marina up 7.2% and 18 days, Monterey down 31.1% and 39 days, and Pacific Grove down 9.57% and 76 days.
Zillow’s modeled value series showed a softer picture, with Seaside down 2.6% year over year as of April 30, 2026. Marina was down 3.3%, Monterey down 3.2%, and Pacific Grove down 1.0%. Since Zillow tracks modeled home values and Redfin tracks closed sales, these numbers are best read as complementary rather than contradictory.
If you are a first-time buyer, move-up buyer, or relocating buyer trying to stay on the Peninsula, Seaside still offers a compelling path. You may be able to access a coastal lifestyle at a lower total purchase price than in Monterey or Pacific Grove. And compared with some nearby markets, the competition level is a bit less intense.
That said, the smartest Seaside buying strategy is selective. The city is not one uniform value story. Neighborhood-level trends show that some pockets are performing better than others.
Zillow’s neighborhood data points to stronger recent momentum in some of the more central or inland value pockets. Oak Grove posted a 12-month gain of 2.4%, and Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande was up 1.9%. Those were the strongest gains among the Seaside-area and adjacent neighborhood pages cited in the research.
By contrast, some other areas were flatter or softer over the same period. Deer Flats, the priciest named neighborhood in that set at $1,796,436, was nearly flat at 0.1%. Fisherman Flats was down 0.5%, Villa Del Monte down 0.9%, Casanovsa Oak Knoll down 1.0%, and Del Monte Beach down 3.1%.
The takeaway is simple: if you are buying for a combination of lifestyle and upside potential, today’s numbers suggest the stronger momentum is in central and inland value pockets, not the premium beachfront pocket.
Part of Seaside’s value case is not just current pricing, but where the city is focusing its planning efforts. The City of Seaside’s current planning work reinforces a Broadway and Fort Ord growth corridor. The West Broadway Urban Village is intended to become the downtown commercial core, with the public library, parking, and mixed-use site identified as a catalyst for that plan.
The city also lists several current projects, including Seaside Resort, Seaside Campus Town in Fort Ord, Projects at Main Gate, Seagrove at Terrace & Broadway, Seaside Apartments at 1620 Broadway, and Seaside Senior Living. The Projects at Main Gate plan covers about 56 acres of former Fort Ord and envisions a lifestyle center, retail, hotel and conference, and spa uses. For buyers thinking long term, that kind of planning activity can support the idea that Seaside’s story is still evolving.
If you are evaluating Seaside as an investment market, it is worth separating owner-occupied appeal from short-term rental upside. The city’s short-term rental program is currently capped at 90 non-hosted licenses and is not accepting new applications. That may limit one common investment angle and reduce speculation-driven demand.
In other words, Seaside may still appeal to buyers who want long-term value, future flexibility, or a primary residence with Peninsula access. But if your plan depends heavily on obtaining a new non-hosted short-term rental license, current city rules make that path much more limited.
If you already own in Seaside, the answer is also nuanced. Sellers in areas showing positive momentum may have a stronger pricing story to tell right now, especially if the home is well-presented and aligned with current buyer expectations. In softer pockets, sharper pricing and thoughtful preparation may matter more.
This is where local strategy becomes important. Seaside is still one of the Peninsula’s most watched value markets, but buyers are paying attention to location within the city, not just the city name itself.
For many Peninsula buyers, yes. Seaside still looks like one of the best value buys if you define value by total entry price, access to the Monterey Peninsula lifestyle, and room to be selective in a market that is somewhat competitive rather than intensely so.
The key is understanding what kind of value you are actually buying. Seaside is not a universal bargain on every metric, especially if your only lens is price per square foot. But if you want a lower-cost way into the Peninsula and you focus on the right subarea, Seaside still deserves a close look.
If you are weighing Seaside against Marina, Monterey, or Pacific Grove, local context can make all the difference. For tailored guidance on where the numbers and neighborhood trends line up with your goals, connect with Maria Finkle.
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