There are four cities nestled here: Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. All cities are affluent and served by the Palos Verdes Unified School District with scores in the 90s and high 90th percentile, often the highest in the state.

Palos Verdes Estates
About 14,000 people live in the most prestigious location in Southern California or anywhere for that matter. Near the ocean, well-maintained but not opulent single family homes enjoy the view. Further away horse trails thread through rolling hills. About 28% of the acreage is reserved as permanent park land, some of it used for walking or hiking trails, with an array of wildlife. Neptune’s Fountain, a replica of 15th century Italian art reigns as the local landmark. The city runs and maintains a golf club, beach and athletic club and stables.

Rancho Palos Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes was incorporated as a city in 1950 with fewer than 500 homes. Ninety percent of the homes were built in the 50s through the 70s. Housing ranges from plenty of glass to tracts with four or five bedrooms. Some houses are mansions with ocean views while most are slightly upscale homes. A portion of homes resides behind the gates. Strict planning and development controls are in place where a population of 43,000 flourishes.

Rolling Hills
Fences and gates are a way of life in this tiny city of 2,000. Casual visitors and looky-loos are not welcome. Governed by a city council and a homeowners association, more than half of the homes have nine or more rooms. This is one of the richest cities in America after Matinecock, New York, and Aspen, Colorado. Median home price is a cool $1,100,000.

Rolling Hills Estates
This city winds through the three other sister cities and has equally tight building controls for 8,300 residents. Homes range from everyday suburban to opulent with 28 different neighborhoods, each having their own specific character and architectural style. Fortunately stores, banks and boutiques provide a tax base to fund local amenities that the other peninsula cities don’t have. There are ten miles of bicycle paths and 25 miles of city bridle paths. Bikes are never allowed on equestrian trails. Additional recreation lends itself to six parks, a city owned tennis club and stables.