About 36 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, you’ll find the beautiful and highly desirable community of Huntington Beach, CA. The area of Huntington Beach is bordered by Cypress, Garden Grove, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, and Stanton.
Huntington Beach has a unique history that begins when it was simply part of a cattle route owned by the Spanish. Over the years, the area has gone by many different names including Shell Beach, Smeltzer, Gospel Swamp, Fairview, and then Pacific City. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the area was named Huntington Beach after a railroad tycoon named Henry E. Huntington.
In its earlier stages, Huntington Beach was known for producing oil as well as crops such as asparagus, celery, sugar beets, lima beans, and peppers. It has since shifted into a dream destination for surfers, music lovers, shoppers, and more.
Known for its 8.5 miles of spectacular beaches, amazing climate, and incredible waves, Huntington Beach is often recognized by the nickname “Surf City”.
Huntington Beach has been home to many notable people including a variety of actors such as Jason Lee and Ethan Embry. It is also the residence of former UFC champion Tito Ortiz, NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, and MLB pitcher Ian Kennedy. Multiple musicians and bands have gotten their start in Huntington Beach including Alien Ant Farm, The Offspring, Reel Big Fish, and many others.
Table of Contents
1. People of Huntington Beach, CA – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Huntington Beach? The Huntington Beach population is 199,228 with a median age of 43 years old. It is the 23rd largest city in California, seeing the most people relocating to Huntington Beach during the 1960s and 1970s.
Huntington Beach demographics show the population is made up of about 59% Caucasian, 22% Hispanic or Latino, 13% Asian, and 1% Black or African American. There is a nearly even 50-50 split for the gender ratio of men and women. Ancestry in Huntington Beach includes higher rates of 14.6% German, 11.8% Irish, 9.5% English, and 7% Italian.
About 46% of residents living in Huntington Beach are married. The median household income in Huntington Beach is $102,423.
2. Things to Do in Huntington Beach
It’s easy to find fun things to do in Huntington Beach as the area is dotted with parks and landmarks, outdoor activities, local attractions, and more.
Top Attractions
A can’t miss thing to do in Huntington Beach is to, of course, visit Huntington State Beach. This popular destination is perfect for surfing, sunbathing, or simply wading in the Pacific Ocean.
Huntington State Beach, 21601 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646 (714) 536-1454
Along the beach, you won’t be able to miss the Huntington Beach Pier, which was first constructed in the early 1900s. This long-standing attraction in Huntington Beach offers visitors beautiful views, a pleasant stroll, and access to Ruby’s Diner at the very end of the pier.
Huntington Beach Pier, 1 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 536-5281
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Another one of the top points of interest in Huntington Beach is Bolsa Chica State Beach, where you can enjoy more surfing, fishing, and other great activities. Spanning about three miles, you’ll find plenty of room to relax and hang out on this gorgeous beach.
Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
For people looking for places to visit in Huntington Beach with their pets, Dog Beach is easily the best destination in town. Your pups will love the chance to run and jump in the ocean, while also having access to dog-friendly drinking fountains.
Dog Beach, Huntington Beach, 20211, Huntington Beach Bike Trail, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 841-8644
Entertainment, Museums, & Arts
With plenty of entertaining activities in Huntington Beach, one of the top places to check out is Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. From old surf memorabilia to history about the sport, it’s a fun spot for surf fans.
Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 465-4350
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As the oldest home in the area, another one of the top attractions in Huntington Beach is the Newland House Museum. It was constructed in 1898 and now offers guided tours to interested visitors.
Newland House Museum, 19820 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 962-5777
You’ve no doubt heard about escape rooms by now, and Wild Goose Escapes is the best Huntington Beach activity for people who enjoy these types of puzzles.
Wild Goose Escapes, 7700 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 879-3369
Parks & Outdoors
With more than 200 species of bird located in the area, another one of the top things to do in Huntington Beach is to check out the nearby Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, 18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 846-1114
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Among the best activities in Huntington Beach for kids, spend a day at Huntington Central Park East with its 350 acres of open fields, nature, picnic spaces, and more.
Huntington Central Park East, 18000 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 536-5486
Listed alongside other local nature preserves, the Shipley Nature Center features a wide range of unique animals, local plant life, and fun hiking trails.
Shipley Nature Center, 17851 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 842-4772
Shopping
If you’re looking for the best shopping destinations in Huntington Beach, look no further than the Bella Terra shopping center. This popular location includes a huge variety of stores such as Barnes & Noble, Burlington, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Staples, Ulta, Whole Foods, and many more.
Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714) 897-2533
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Another great place to go shopping in Huntington Beach is at the upscale area of Pacific City, where you’ll find high-end stores, a mini-golf course, and great restaurants.
Pacific City, 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 930-2345
3. Places to Eat in Huntington Beach
One of Huntington Beach’s top places to eat is known as Duke’s, where you’ll find an amazing menu of Hawaiian seafood specialties including fish tacos, ahi steaks, filet mignon, burgers, and more.
Duke’s, 317 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 374-6446
As mentioned earlier, at the far end of Huntington Beach Pier, Ruby’s Diner offers diners a 1940s-style dining experience with salads, burgers, sandwiches, shakes, and malts.
Ruby’s Diner, 1 Main St #1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 969-7829
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At Sandy’s Beach Shack, you can enjoy eating at one of the top restaurants in Huntington Beach with its menu of pizza, fish n chips, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Sandy’s Beach Shack, 315 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 374-7273
4. Cost of Living in Huntington Beach, CA
The average cost of living in Huntington Beach is 84% higher than the national average and 33% higher than the California state average. While utilities and transportation are on the lower side, the Huntington Beach real estate market, food, and healthcare tend to be more expensive.
How much does it cost to live in Huntington Beach, CA? According to Numbeo, some of the average expenses you can plan to pay for in Huntington Beach are:
- Milk (regular 1 gallon) $3.60
- Eggs (1 Dozen) $2.97
- Rice (1 lb) $1.83
- Bread (1 loaf) $3.05
- Beer (1 pint) $6.00
- Average Cost of Gasoline (per gallon) $3.27
- Average Cost of Utilities (per month) $170.56
- McDonald’s Burger (1/4 Pounder) $10.00
- Movie Ticket (1st run) $12.00
5. Huntington Beach Real Estate
The homeownership rate in Huntington Beach is 59%, which makes it more common than not to own your residence in the area. Huntington Beach, CA homes for sale range from large, upscale homes to small studio apartments depending on your needs.
The average price of a home in Huntington Beach is $989,000, which adds up to a median sale price of $533 per square foot. On average, the required down payment in Huntington Beach is about 43%.
The Huntington Beach property tax rate is 0.690%m which means a $989,000 home would have an estimated $6,824 in annual property taxes.
Huntington Beach rent has increased by about 1% in the past year. The average price of rent in Huntington Beach is about $2,218 per month with the final amount depending on where you live, the size of your home, and its nearby amenities.
6. Huntington Beach Neighborhoods
The area of Huntington Beach spans about 27 square miles along the western border of Orange County. Local zip codes in Huntington Beach include 90742, 92646, 92647, 92648, 92649, and 92683. The area codes in Huntington Beach are 714 and 562.
Where should I live in Huntington Beach? The best Huntington Beach neighborhoods are Sunset Beach, Bolsa Chica, Goldenwest, and Adams.
Sunset Beach
- Population: 491
- Home for sale in Sunset Beach
- Average price of a home: $2,041,641
Bolsa Chica
- Population: 39,464
- Home for sale in Bolsa Chica
- Average price of a home: $2,350,000
Goldenwest
- Population: 11,621
- Home for sale in Goldenwest
- Average price of a home: $395,000
Adams
- Population: 9,597
- Home for sale in Adams
- Average price of a home: $529,000
7. Crime Rate in Huntington Beach
If you’re wondering about local safety, the Huntington Beach crime rate is 10% lower than the national average. There is an average of 210.89 crimes per 100,000 people residing in Huntington Beach. The violent crime rate in Huntington Beach is 50% lower than the average across the nation.
Thanks to the valiant efforts of local authorities, Huntington Beach is a safe place to live. To keep up with local statistics, you can monitor the Huntington Beach crime map.
8. Huntington Beach Schools
There are about 41,837 kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old living in Huntington Beach, making up about 21% of the city population. Huntington Beach is an excellent place for families to live with its reputable school systems. The two main districts in the area are the Huntington Beach City Elementary School District and the Fountain Valley Elementary School District.
Top-rated Huntington Beach schools include:
- Huntington Seacliff Elementary School
- William T. Newland Elementary School
- Talbert (Samuel E.) Middle School
- Isaac L. Sowers Middle School
- Edison High School
- Huntington Beach High School
While there aren’t any colleges or universities in Huntington Beach, people interested in secondary education do have other options close by such as Vanguard University about 7 miles away.
9. Jobs in Huntington Beach
The average salary in Huntington Beach is $74,000 per year with an average hourly rate of $19.56 per hour. The California state income tax rate is between 1%-12.3% based on income. In Huntington Beach, the current unemployment rate is about 7%.
Some of the most reputable employers providing local Huntington Beach jobs are:
- Boardriders
- Staff Pro
- G&M Oil
- City of Huntington Beach
- Landmark Health
Some residents in the area commute from Huntington Beach to Los Angeles. The trip is about 37 miles, taking between 50 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic.
If you are searching for a job in Huntington Beach, check out available careers on Indeed.
10. Transportation in Huntington Beach
Wondering how to get around Huntington Beach? You’ll find plenty of convenient Huntington Beach transportation options across the city based on your needs and location.
The major highways you’ll find in Huntington Beach include the Pacific Coast Highway (HWY 1) and the San Diego Freeway (I-405).
If you want to take the bus, Huntington Beach residents are served by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) with nine routes around town. There are also Amtrak stations within driving distance from any part of town.
The nearest airports to Huntington Beach are John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport, both of which are within 30 minutes away. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is also close by, only about 45 minutes from anywhere in Huntington Beach.
Residents living in Huntington Beach also have rideshare options such as Uber or Lyft.
11. Huntington Beach, CA Weather
Located along the California coast, the climate in Huntington Beach is considered Mediterranean. This makes the weather in Huntington Beach some of the most envious across the entire nation.
The average temperature in Huntington Beach during summertime ranges from the mid-60s a night to the mid-70s during the day. And when winter rolls around, these temperatures only dip slightly to lows in the upper 40s and highs in the mid-60s. Huntington Beach gets about 12 inches of rain per year.
12. Sports in Huntington Beach
While Huntington Beach doesn’t have any of its own sports teams, residents do have easy access to root for all of the best Los Angeles teams including the Dodgers, Angels, Chargers, Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Sparks, and more.
Once a year, Huntington Beach also plays host to the U.S. Open of Surfing. This week-long competition attracts surfers from all over the country and is recognized as the gateway to the World Surfing Championships.
Living in Huntington Beach Pros & Cons
- Pro: Find more than enough fun things to do, great places to eat, and convenient shopping locations.
- Pro: Enjoy safe living thanks to the low crime rates in Huntington Beach.
- Pro: Moving to Huntington Beach means experiencing some of the best weather found anywhere in the world.
- Con: The higher cost of living in Huntington Beach makes the area a more expensive place to call home.
- Con: Tax rates in California cities like Huntington Beach tend to be higher than in other parts of the country.
Moving to Huntington Beach, CA
There are more than enough good reasons to move to Huntington Beach. The area is one of the best places to live for those who enjoy the sun, the sand, and the surf.
If you need a mover to assist with your upcoming transition, SafeWay Moving is the top moving company in Huntington Beach! Give us a call today at (949) 639-0330 or fill out the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!