Marina, CA


4 Reviews



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Marina, CA

About Marina, CA

Marina is a small coastal city located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It's just north of Monterey and Carmel, close to where the famous 17 Mile Drive winds its way along the Pacific coast. With a population of almost 20,000 people, Marina has a relaxed vibe and beautiful scenery, making it perfect for eco-tourism. Activities range from kayaking and whale watching to hiking trails and outdoor activities. The Marina State Beach offers great views and elegant picnicking experiences, while nearby military installations such as Fort Ord provide interesting historical tours and educational opportunities. Marina is one of California’s hidden gems – an undiscovered paradise waiting to be explored! Beach town/Small city - Northern California, on the south end of Monterey Bay, 110 miles south of San Francisco.

State: California
County: Monterey County
Metro Area: Salinas Metro Area
City: Marina
Zip Codes: 93933
Cost of Living:
Time zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Elevation: 267 ft above sea level

Agricultural Salinas was dubbed the “salad bowl of the nation” by John Steinbeck because of its lettuce crops. Salinas is affordable and small in comparison to the others, but has the character of a typical California Central Valley town – dry, dusty, functional and with little intellectual stimulation. By contrast, nearby Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove are located on the coastal Monterey Peninsula. Carmel, a noted artist colony and Hollywood refuge, has controlled growth and maintains a charming village character with some exceptional residential properties, while Monterey is a more commercialized setup honoring its fishing village heritage for its many visitors. Pacific Grove, with its assortment of well-built Victorian and Craftsman-era homes, is probably the most livable city on the peninsula.

Not surprisingly, you’ll need a large endowment to afford any of the coastal cities and particularly Carmel. The Cost of Living index and the median home price are quite high. What’s worse, you won’t earn the money locally, as employment prospects, especially for high paying jobs, are bleak. Crime rates are quite high for the type of area. Aside from these issues, the location is a bit isolated from big-city amenities and services, all of which are available to the north in San Francisco, which while not far is hard to access. Bottom line- this is a magnificent area to live in if you can afford to live in the right parts of it.

Salinas sits in an agricultural valley. The peninsula cities are in an area of low hills, with dense pine and cypress trees. Large sand dunes occur at the head of Monterey Bay. South of Carmel, hills grow larger and the coastline becomes rugged and elevated. The climate is coastal Mediterranean. Heavy, low stratus clouds, known locally as “fog,” occur in all seasons. Summer days, when clear, are invariably sunny, cool, and breezy, but can be quite hot at Salinas and inland. Winters are moderate with periods of Pacific rain.

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Marina Cost of Living

Attractive setting, year-round climate, and recreation/entertainment make Marina a great place to live.

$798,900
+57.7% higher than avg
$78,795
+12.4% higher than avg
9.2 / 7.6
Comfort Index
summer/winter
Marina Crime
35.2 / 100
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low) to 100 (high). US average: 35.4
Minimum annual income
To live comfortably in Marina, California
$153,000
for a family
$88,400
for a single person
Pros & Cons of Marina
   Attractive setting
Tourist impact
   Year-round climate
Isolation
   Recreation/Entertainment
Cost of living and housing
Reviews for Marina
    See all (4)

I've lived in Marina for the last 15 years. It is a gray place with old dated looking buildings, no real main street, and is the domain of the slum lord, and the mini  More
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Old Fort Ord is the only affordable housing on the Monterey Peninsula. It's frequently colder here than it was in Oregon. There is finally some local public  More
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Over 17 years ago
I find it funny when I lived here from '91-'01 there were hardly any stores new homes being build to justify staying. Then as soon as I move the city finally starts  More
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