Palos Verdes Estates
Palos Verdes Estates is an affluent Palos Verdes Peninsula city of roughly 13,000 residents occupying the northwestern face of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, framed by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes on the east. The city was master-planned in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm (successors to Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame), and the original planning framework — curving streets, generous residential lots, and preserved coastal bluffs — still defines the city's character. Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District covers the city and is one of the highest-ranked systems in Los Angeles County.
Palos Verdes Estates market notes.
Detailed market figures for Palos Verdes Estates are coming soon as MUVE connects each city's live data feed. In the meantime, ask a MUVE agent for current pricing, inventory, and days on market specific to your price range and target neighborhoods.
Talk to MUVE about Palos Verdes Estates →The Palos Verdes Estates neighborhoods we know best.
Palos Verdes Estates's submarkets sort by elevation and by which of the three original planning districts each block sits in. Malaga Cove, Lunada Bay, and Valmonte each carry distinct character.
- 01
Malaga Cove
The historic northern portion of the city near Malaga Cove Plaza, the small Mediterranean-style commercial center developed as part of the original 1920s master plan. Substantial single-family estates on generous lots, historic Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean architecture, and coastal bluff proximity.
- 02
Lunada Bay
The western coastal portion of the city, framed by Lunada Bay Beach and the coastal bluffs. Substantial single-family homes on hillside and bluff-top lots, some of the most dramatic ocean views on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and the surf break at Lunada Bay Point.
- 03
Valmonte
The northern residential district near the boundary with Torrance, developed in the 1920s and 1930s. Established single-family homes on tree-lined blocks with a distinct residential character, more inland than the coastal districts.
- 04
Montemalaga
The central residential district in the interior of the city, developed as part of the later phases of the master plan. Substantial single-family homes on generous lots, with pockets of custom construction and interior canyon terrain.
Schools, amenities, and getting around.
Schools
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District serves the city and is one of the highest-ranked districts in Los Angeles County. Palos Verdes High School (in Palos Verdes Estates) and Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (in Rolling Hills Estates) are the two high schools. PVPUSD is one of the primary reasons buyers pay the Palos Verdes premium.
Amenities and access
The Olmsted Brothers-planned 1920s master plan defines the city's curving streets and preserved coastal bluffs. Malaga Cove Plaza is a small Mediterranean-style commercial center from the original plan. Palos Verdes Estates Beach and Malaga Cove Beach provide coastal access. The Palos Verdes Peninsula bike loop passes through the city along Palos Verdes Drive West. There is no freeway inside the city; Palos Verdes Drive is the primary through road.
Homes for sale in Palos Verdes Estates.
Live MLS listings for Palos Verdes Estates, updated throughout the day. Filter by price, beds, and neighborhood inside MUVE's full search experience.
Browse Live Palos Verdes Estates Listings →Buying or selling in Palos Verdes Estates.
What buyers and sellers ask most often about Palos Verdes Estates.
What is the Olmsted planning legacy?
Palos Verdes Estates was master-planned in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm (successors to Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame), retained by the Vanderlip family who owned the peninsula land. The plan featured curving streets that follow the terrain, generous residential lots, preserved coastal bluffs, and Mediterranean-style architecture with height limits. Much of the original framework is still visible.How does Palos Verdes Estates compare with Rancho Palos Verdes?
Rancho Palos Verdes is directly southeast and is substantially larger by land area and population. Palos Verdes Estates is the older Olmsted-planned original master-planned community with more consistent architectural character. Both are inside PVPUSD, so school demand ties them closely. PVE tends to have older historic architecture; RPV has more mid-century and newer construction on hillside terrain.How strong is Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified?
PVPUSD is one of the highest-ranked school districts in Los Angeles County and is one of the primary reasons buyers pay the Palos Verdes premium. Palos Verdes High School (inside Palos Verdes Estates) and Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (in Rolling Hills Estates) are the two high schools. Elementary and middle assignments vary by address.What is Malaga Cove Plaza?
Malaga Cove Plaza is a small Mediterranean-style commercial center developed as part of the original 1920s Olmsted master plan. It has restored historic commercial buildings with restaurants, small-format retail, and the Malaga Cove Library. It functions as the city's small daily commercial anchor and is one of the most consistent Mediterranean-planning legacies in Southern California.What is the coastal and beach access like?
Palos Verdes Estates has one of the more preserved coastal bluff stretches in Los Angeles County. Palos Verdes Estates Beach (a small rocky beach below Malaga Cove) and Malaga Cove Beach provide direct coastal access via steep trails from the bluff-top. Lunada Bay Point on the western coast is a well-known surf break, though public access is limited.
Thinking about a move in Palos Verdes Estates?
Send a few details about what you are looking for and a MUVE agent will follow up shortly. We work across Los Angeles County and the rest of Southern California.