The sun and the sand define daily life in Huntington Beach, coined “Surf City USA” after battling it out legally with Santa Cruz in 2008 for the naming rights. The biggest names in surfing are drawn to the city’s consistently idyllic conditions and strong swells each year for the largest surf competition in the world. Incorporated in 1909, this community of almost 200,000 people began as a modest oil field, with residential land so cheap that parcels were gifted along with a purchased set of encyclopedias. “It’s hard to imagine now, but we’re a town built on oil, and back in the day, wells dotted the coastal landscape,” says council member Casey McKeon, a third-generation resident. “When my grandfather moved to Huntington Beach after the Korean War, I imagine he saw what everyone else sees: beautiful beaches, wonderful weather and the opportunity for a laidback lifestyle.”
Surfers locally and all over the world come to Huntington Beach to catch its famous waves.
You'll often see majestic sunsets that radiate through Huntington Beach.
The Huntington Beach Pier is a photogenic spot for family photos and sunsets.
Huntington Beach is affectionately known as Surf City USA.
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Waterfront wonders
Despite the inflated cost of entry, the real estate market in Huntington Beach is competitive, with a supply that cannot meet the demand from prospective homebuyers. The median price was around $1.5 million in August 2024, compared to $900,000 in broader California and $400,000 nationally. Every neighborhood offers something a little different, according to council member Rhonda Bolton, who says Huntington Beach was the obvious choice for her family after a job transfer to Irvine years ago. “Huntington Harbour is known for particularly high-end single-family homes because of the man-made islands that make it possible to put decks and boat slips, which created a lot of waterfront property.” Homes in this high-end community start around $4 million for a 1965 home with 1990s updates, while an oceanfront modern masterpiece with three stories of picture windows and a luxurious interior can be priced as high as $10 million. Downtown Huntington Beach has many different property styles, including condominiums, townhouses, and single-family homes of different eras. “Here you might find a little 1960s beach cottage right next to a three-story home made of glass and steel,” Bolton says.
Homes in north Huntington Beach lines the beaches with unobstructed views of the ocean.
Huntington Beach Harbor is home to large homes with private docks and boats.
Homes in north Huntington Beach lines the beaches with unobstructed views of the ocean.
Huntington Harbor features plenty of waterfront homes with private decks and large yachts.
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Huntington Beach City School District
The Huntington Beach City School District serves the city and is graded A by Niche. In addition to high academic achievement, HBCSD focuses on leadership development and community engagement with its students. “Our school system is excellent and award-winning, with diverse programs,” says council member Dan Kalmick, who grew up in neighboring Seal Beach before making his home in Huntington Beach. “And many of the facilities are community schools that are walkable from different neighborhoods, which you don’t always get in bigger districts.” Though it ranks well in most metrics, from academics to diversity, HBCSD faces declining enrollment and school closures as the city’s average age creeps up. With an iconic bell tower and auditorium that is a century old, Huntington Beach High School is one of the best magnet schools in the state based on standardized test score performance. Graded A by Niche, HBHS is ranked in the top 10% of all public high schools in California.
Beach lifestyle
Huntington Beach is an outdoor mecca that attracts people in droves, boasting almost 10 miles of pristine sandy beaches and a jewel-toned ocean that shimmers in the sun. The city draws over 11 million visitors annually, but water activities like surfing and paddleboarding are also popular with health-conscious residents in this beautiful beach-oriented community. Locals know how to avoid the tourists, sticking to the far ends of the beach and avoiding the iconic Huntington Beach Pier during the peak of the traveler season. “We go to an area called Dog Beach, where you can let your pup run wild,” Bolton says. The city has a growing 55+ population and has made serious strides in recent years with accessibility. “We provide beach wheelchairs, paved pathways and Mobi-Mats, which allow less surefooted seniors to make it down to the waterline at high tide,” Kalmick says. An outdoor highlight, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is on 1,300 acres north of downtown and home to over 200 species of birds spread across the natural coastal wetlands. The cars on the Pacific Coast Highway seem a world away for visitors witnessing the wildlife and stunning sunsets.
Surfing is a way of life in Huntington Beach, which hosts the US Open of Surfing annually.
You'll find plenty of volleyball nets set along the beaches of Huntington Beach.
The Huntington Beach Pier is a photogenic spot for family photos and sunsets.
A thriving ecosystem in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve features a variety of birds.
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Fresh seafood and ocean views
Those searching for world-class shopping and dining destinations will find much to love about Huntington Beach. “There are restaurants scattered throughout the city, including amazing Asian food on Beach Boulevard, which is the main thoroughfare from the highway to the ocean,” McKeon says. Home to Michelin-starred LSXO, which is Vietnamese, the city is also known for fresh seafood, Mexican fare and many health food options. “There are also some places with amazing ocean views at Pacific City, a cool lifestyle shopping center everyone loves,” McKeon says. “Bella Terra is another shopping and entertainment center that has really built up over the last 20 years.”
Pacific City is a vibrant and modern shopping center along the coast of Huntington Beach.
LSXO is an upscale, speakeasy-style Vietnamese Restaurant in Huntington Beach.
Bear Flag Fish Co at in Huntington Beach features fresh seafood dishes and California favorites.
Bella Terra in Huntington Beach is a large shopping plaza with dining and shopping options.
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Surf-centric arts scene
Arts and culture are fostered at a city level in Huntington Beach, where officials help local artists work with private property owners to bring streetscape-defining murals to life. “We have an art center right off Main Street that always has new artists coming through and events happening,” McKeon says. The Huntington Beach Art Center is the beating heart of downtown, providing a free space for creative expression and dynamic year-round programming. “The International Surfing Museum is a big draw; it actually has the world’s largest surfboard,” McKeon says. The Surfing Walk of Fame induction ceremony is held in conjunction with the U.S. Open of Surfing each year – usually in late July or early August.
Huntington Beach features a vibrant art scene that reflects the city's culture.
You can find murals and artwork throughout the city of Huntington Beach that shows off its art.
Photographers frequently look to capture surfers catching big waves in Huntington Beach.
The Huntington Beach Pier is a iconic part of the city and enjoys stunning sunsets each evening.
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Daunting traffic, coastal erosion
Huntington Beach is about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, a sneaky long drive that can easily take two hours during rush hour. Traffic in Southern California is known to be daunting, with cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana and Irvine all under 20 miles away, but driving times are close to an hour during certain parts of the day. Getting around Huntington Beach on surface roads is less of a challenge. “The city is on a grid, which makes getting around pretty easy, and locals know all the ways to avoid the heavy traffic,” Kalmick says. “And they opened toll roads on the 405 to alleviate some congestion.” Traveling to Los Angeles International Airport can be an endurance exercise, but John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport are about half the distance. Public transportation, including nine local bus routes operated by the Orange County Transportation Authority, is available. There are Amtrak stations in Santa Ana and Anaheim for rail passenger service. There is also a hyper-local option for getting around. “Circuit operates electric golf carts like shuttles within a given radius downtown, and we’re looking to expand access,” McKeon says. “It’s like a mini-Uber you can hail on your phone for $2 a rider.” Huntington Beach Medical Center is a primary hospital within the city.
Though its location on the coast means Huntington Beach is not at risk of wildfires, a significant insurance concern in much of California, several other environmental risks remain. The city is on a fault line, meaning earthquakes are a concern. Tsunamis can be triggered by local earthquake activity or from rumblings thousands of miles away across the Pacific. Surf City is threatened by sea level rise brought on by climate change, with higher tides eroding coastal bluffs along the shoreline. In 2017, the city produced a vulnerability assessment looking ahead to 2100 and outlined nearer-term mitigation efforts.
Safety is a priority
Compared to national and state numbers, Huntington Beach is comparatively safe. Between 2022 and 2024, about 70 violent crimes per 100,000 people were reported per month, according to the FBI crime statistics. That’s compared to almost 110 nationally and 105 in broader California. Property crime is much more in line with national state numbers, with about 170 offenses reported per 100,000 people monthly. “A lot of people still don’t lock their doors, and you’re not going to see bars on windows here,” Kalmick says. The city coordinates a quarterly Neighborhood Watch newsletter with crime prevention tips and encourages safety-minded citizens to get involved at a community level. “Safety should be the top priority for local government, and that was my platform when I ran for council,” McKeon says. “We work to keep Main Street and the pier safe and clean. Police are always patrolling the hot spots, and when there is an issue, we jump right on it.”
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
