Yes, DLI. Monterey proper has terrible schools and DLI is not paying enough for private. Pacific Grove has good schools but without the arts that Carmel offers. We are set on Carmel.

I know that area that you are talking about, and there is another area called "mid-valley," which is about half-way between Carmel and CV. So we are actually looking at 5 areas:

1. Carmel, west of the 1.
2. Carmel, just east of the 1.
3. Carmel, right before CV (near middle school)
4. CV Mid-Valley
5. Carmel Valley

1/2/3 are all about the same commute, but 1 is by the beach, so the most fun but the most expensive to rent/buy. 4/5 both add 15-20-minutes each way, feed to a different elementary, but 5 is the most affordable to rent/buy with bigger, nicer houses and lots and often with private pools. As a result, we are between 1 (pay to be near beach with good commute) or 5 (get a deal with private pool with worse commute).

On average, DH will go into Monterey 3X/week, because there are weeks that he travels, weeks off, and weeks that he can telework. I will work in Salinas, so my commute will be about the same from 1 or 5.

Carmel Valley because the weather is better.

Is he going to be at DLI? If so, I would look in Monterey proper. My parents lived in Carmel ( right before CV) and it was lovely. CV gets much hotter than Carmel by the Sea and Monterey. Personally, I would live in Pacific Grove. Beautiful place! CV is also pretty far if you have to drive to Monterey and the traffic can be bad especially in summer when tourists and events at Pebble Beach attract lots of tourists.

Any insight here? Husband was offered a job as a foreign language teacher and we are looking to move.

Rent or buy?

CV or Carmel?

Flood, fire risks?