Pacific Grove: Off Base Area of Town

"Quieter Area"

Pacific Grove is the quieter option with a pretty equal distribution between young families and older adults and retirees. You will hear regularly how “Mayberry” it is living there. There are apartment dwellings and single family homes which tend to be on the smaller side and are older builds. PG, as it is affectionately known, has its own quaint downtown with a few standout eateries and boutiques. Most residents are in walking distance of downtown.

Pacific Grove Unified School District (PGUSD) has a very strong reputation with reviews and scores to back it up. PGUSD encompasses two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school in addition to a few other specialty school programs. Our experience was pleasant and I am pleased our elementary aged daughter was part of the system. One negative attribute I have encountered were comments regarding the lack of diversity within the student body.

If you are getting orders to NPS or DLI (Monterey, CA), Pacific Grove (PG) is one of a several nearby communities you may choose to live in. ***Please note I like warm weather!!!*** Here are the benefits of Pacific Grove:

-Fairly close to NPS, DLI
-Good downtown area for walking
-Farmers market every Monday
-Close to oceanfront - not warm/sunny enough here for a "beach day" but if you like running, biking it is great for you
-Feels very safe - it is very quiet and I feel comfortable
walking anywhere here
-Many downtown businesses have military discounts available
-Good second-hand shopping (there is a great children's consignment store; each quarter nearby La Mesa Housing area holds a large yard sale which is awesome for children's items)
-Somewhat pet friendly -- although it is somewhat difficult as a renter. Eric Marsh, who is based in PG, seems to have many pet-friendly homes but not all of them are located in PG)
-Many family-friendly events throughout the year
-Small town feel

We lived in Pacific Grove while my husband attended Naval Postgraduate School. It's paradise for outdoor-lovers if you find a place near the water. The Monterey Recreation Trail wraps around the peninsula of Pacific Grove, so you have access to a fantastic biking/running/walking trail that takes you from Asilomar beach, past the beach populated with seals (and seal pups in April/May), through Pacific Grove's Cannery Row touristy area, near the Wharf and downtown Monterey, and even out to Seaside. Pacific Grove has older, charming little homes. The area is very quiet and there aren't many kids, but neighbors and downtown Pacific Grove seems very welcoming if there are children. You're about 10 minutes from Carmel, 15 from Point Lobos State Park, and 5-10 from downtown Monterey. More bang for your buck than Monterey and classier/more walkable than Seaside.