Seaside, formerly East Monterey, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States, with a population of 32,366 as of the 2020 census. It is located 2.25 miles (3.6 km) east-northeast of Monterey, at an elevation of 33 feet (10 m), and is the home of California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), UC MBEST Center, and the Monterey College of Law, which are located on the site of the former military base Fort Ord. Also on the site are the Bayonet and Black Horse golf courses, now open to the public and host to PGA Tour events, including the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship. Seaside is the gateway to Fort Ord National Monument, created on April 20, 2012.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Seaside ranks

All →

#104Shortest commute in CA #154Most trails in CA #211Highest graduation rate in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code93955

Area code831

Living in Seaside

Housing in Seaside

$789K▼ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Seaside home is worth about $789,000, down 1.1% in a year, close to the California typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market19

Sale-to-list100%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Seaside

Safety Grade C

Seaside reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 67% report less. Within California, it does better than 55% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Seaside 5.4

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Seaside 6.9

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Seaside

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Seaside for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Monterey (25%), Salinas (8%) and Del Monte Forest (4%). Half commute less than 7 miles.

Monterey

25%

Salinas

Del Monte Forest

Pacific Grove

9%Work in townlive and work in Seaside 7 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,720Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Seaside →

Health in Seaside

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 50% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

1better than CA·7worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 24 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.4%Fewer adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · better 9.9%More adults facing a utility shut-offCA 7.3% · worse

Care nearby

Community Hospital of the Monterey PeninsulaMonterey · 6.2 mi · ER

County of Monterey - Seaside Family Health CenterSeaside · 2.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

2 health centers in Seaside →

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Seaside · CMS · HRSAHealth in Seaside →

Natural hazards in Seaside

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding

2Does Seaside flood?paid flood claims since 1982 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Seaside MapSeaside vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Seaside →

Climate in Seaside

Full climate →

Seaside has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 68°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of.

61° / 42°Winter

64° / 46°Spring

68° / 52°Summer

69° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Seaside get?Almost none.Rain & snow →Does it ever freeze?In about 53% of years.Frost →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Seaside →

Schools in Seaside

All Seaside schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Seaside’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 68% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

See how Seaside’s schools compare in CA →

DistrictMonterey Peninsula UnifiedSchools14

Martin Luther KingElementary · Grades K–6 · 548 students George C. Marshall ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 516 students International School of Monterey B+Elementary · Grades K–8 · 439 students Dual Language Academy of the Monterey PeninsulaElementary · Grades K–8 · 410 students Ord Terrace Elementary D-Elementary · Grades K–6 · 397 students Del Rey Woods ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 390 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.