Marina

Marina is a small coastal city on Monterey Bay, just north of Seaside and Monterey and about 10 miles up Highway 1 from Cannery Row. It offers a relaxed vibe, beautiful scenery and plenty of outdoor activities, and prices that have historically run lower than the rest of the Peninsula. For a lot of the families I work with, that combination is what puts Marina on the list.

Marina History and Community

Marina incorporated on November 13, 1975, which makes it the newest city in the Monterey area. It has grown a lot since then, especially as the former Fort Ord Army post has been redeveloped around it. The 2020 Census counted 22,359 residents, up from 19,718 in 2010, and the latest Census estimate puts the city at about 23,300 people across 8.91 square miles.

The city includes part of the California State University, Monterey Bay campus, the UC Santa Cruz MBEST research center and the Veterans Transition Center, so it has a younger, more diverse population than many coastal towns. Marina was also named one of America’s Promise Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People. Even so, about 15% of residents are 65 or older, and the city works hard to serve people of all ages.

Marina Beaches, Parks and the Outdoors

Marina is a haven for people who like to be outside. Marina State Beach is known for its tall dunes and is one of the best hang gliding and paragliding spots on the coast. Just south, Fort Ord Dunes State Park protects about four miles of beach and nearly 1,000 acres of dunes on the former Army post, and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail runs right along the shoreline.

Inland, the Fort Ord National Monument covers 14,658 acres with more than 86 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. And when you want the big attractions, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the shops on Cannery Row are about 15 minutes away in Monterey.

Senior Services in Marina

The Marina Senior Center, run by the city’s Recreation and Cultural Services Department, is open weekday mornings for adults 55 and older. Members can take exercise, yoga, stretch and tai chi classes, try line dancing, pickleball and ping pong, join sewing, quilting and knitting groups, or just come for social hour and monthly BINGO. Annual membership is modest, and Marina residents pay less than non-residents.

Many older homeowners I talk with in Marina want to stay put as long as possible, and the city’s single-level ranch homes make that easier than in a lot of places. If that is your plan, my aging in place guide covers the changes worth making, and my downsizing guide is there for when it is time for something smaller.

Marina Schools and Colleges

Most of Marina is served by the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, with public schools from preschool through grade 12, including Marina High School, plus several charter options. The Marina Branch of the Monterey County Free Libraries provides additional resources for students and residents. Higher education is close to home too, with CSU Monterey Bay on the edge of town and Monterey Peninsula College’s Education Center in Marina.

Jobs, Shopping and Dining in Marina

Marina’s largest industries include accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and the city also has well-paid jobs in utilities, public administration and professional services. CSUMB and the research and aviation activity around the airport add to the mix, and Joby Aviation’s manufacturing facility at the Marina Municipal Airport was approved in 2021.

For everyday shopping, The Dunes on Monterey Bay has big-box stores, a movie theater and newer restaurants along the Promenade on 10th Street, and older shopping centers along Reservation Road and Del Monte Boulevard fill in the rest. You can find everything from a quick lunch at a taqueria to a seafood dinner, and the combined sales tax rate in Marina is 9.25%.

Getting Around Marina

Marina sits right on Highway 1, which makes it easy to reach Monterey to the south and Santa Cruz to the north, and Highway 156 and Highway 101 are a short drive away for trips to Salinas and San Jose. Monterey-Salinas Transit buses connect Marina with the rest of the Peninsula and Salinas. The city also owns the Marina Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport, and Monterey Regional Airport is about 20 minutes away for commercial flights.

Marina Neighborhoods

Marina is a small city, but the older neighborhoods west of the former Fort Ord and the new master-planned areas on the old Army land feel very different from each other. I am adding detailed guides as I go, starting with the newest one.

• Sea Haven, new Layia and Villosa homes around The Cove Clubhouse off Imjin Parkway

Is Marina a Good Fit for Downsizers?

Marina has more single-level homes than most coastal towns, especially the 1960s and 1970s ranch homes in Central Marina, and much of that part of town is fairly level, which makes everyday life easier as mobility changes. There are also condos and townhomes, and newer neighborhoods like Sea Haven offer single-story plans with HOA-maintained parks and a clubhouse, though HOA dues and any special taxes should be part of the math. Some Central Marina homes are within reach of the shopping centers along Reservation Road and Del Monte Boulevard, but most of the city works best with a car.

The Marina Senior Center offers weekday programs for adults 55 and older, and Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey is about 15 to 20 minutes away, with the Salinas hospitals about 20 minutes inland. If you are selling a longtime home to buy something smaller here or elsewhere in California, Prop 19 may let you carry your lower property tax base with you, and my Prop 19 guide explains how it works.

Marina Neighborhoods and the Housing Market

Marina offers a range of housing, from 1960s and 1970s ranch homes and bungalows in Central Marina and Marina Heights to newer construction in master-planned neighborhoods like Sea Haven and The Dunes, plus apartments and townhomes. That new construction has changed the market a lot. According to Redfin’s Marina housing market data, the median sale price in July 2026 was about $1.17 million, up 33.8% from a year earlier, with 41 homes sold at about 99.2% of list price after a median of 41 days on market. Monthly numbers in a city this size swing with the mix of new homes, and the Census estimate of the median owner-occupied home value is about $819,000, while the median gross rent is about $2,100.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marina

Living in Marina gives you beaches and open space, a comfortable year-round climate and a real community feel, with a cost of living that is higher than the U.S. average but in line with much of coastal California. If you’re considering a move to Marina, or selling a longtime family home here, I’m happy to be your professional real estate advisor. Book a call with me or call 408-413-3087, and I’ll help you make your next move the best one yet.