Balboa Island
Keeping boats in Beacon and Newport bays, public shoreline
Boating is one of the most common pastimes here. In addition to the island’s private docks, Balboa Yacht Basin, Newport Beach Yacht Club and other clubs are just north across Beacon Bay. On the south side, Newport Bay is larger and holds even more boats. This bay eventually spits out into the Pacific Ocean for deep-sea fishing and diving. For those who don’t have a boat, Balboa Island is ringed by sand, and all beaches are public. They’re only wide enough for a few people, and dogs are only allowed in the mornings and evenings. Still, swimming and fishing are permitted. Other popular spots are a ferry ride south on Balboa Peninsula. This area has both the Balboa Pier and Newport Beach Pier, in addition to the much-wider Newport Beach. Many tourists come here for the Balboa Fun Zone, a carnival district with Ferris wheels and funnel cake.
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Beach cottages and contemporaries on Balboa Island
Homes on Balboa Island have the quintessential beach vibe: multiple stories, abundant windows, large patios and bright colors. They’re also close together with minimal yards, considering the size of the island. Despite these similarities, some properties are cottages built in the 1920s, while others are contemporaries from the 2020s. Renovations and square footage can influence price, but the main driver is water proximity. Single-family homes start at $3.4 million but can reach $10.6 million on the waterfront. Duplexes are between $3.1 million and $4.9 million. All these prices may seem high, but the median sale price on the island is less than neighboring Balboa Peninsula Point and Bayside.
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Quaint downtown on Marine Avenue
Marine Avenue is not just the island’s commercial center, filled with walkable shops and restaurants. It’s also the site of a heated — well, frozen — rivalry. Dad’s and Sugar 'n Spice both started in the 1940s and claim to have the original frozen banana, a sweet treat topped with chocolate, nuts or other toppings. These walk-up restaurants are a hot topic among locals who might favor one or the other. Tourists often come to try the signature banana, too, and walk the district overall. “In the summer, roughly 80% of the people on that street are tourists,” Post says. “But the people that live there know each other since everything is really small.” Clothing boutiques such as Crush Clothing and Isabelle’s Cabinet are nearby, and the Irvine Ranch Market is a local grocer on the district’s south side. Balboa Island Museum is also here with exhibits about yacht clubs, sailing and Newport’s own John Wayne. Several other businesses are toward the ferry, on the island’s west side. About a mile north into mainland Newport Beach, Fashion Island is an outdoor mall with nearly 200 retailers.
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Balboa Island Community Garage Sale and other events
The Balboa Island Community Garage Sale happens in April, with about 70 sellers in 2024. Concert in the Park is a recurring summer series in Balboa Island Park, a small green space on the island’s west side. While Newport Beach’s Fireworks Extravaganza isn’t directly on the island, it’s about a mile north at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. The city hosts many other events throughout the year.
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All As for schools in mainland Newport Beach
Balboa Island doesn’t have any schools, so students have to travel to the mainland. Lincoln Elementary is only about 2 miles east, though, and it gets an A from Niche. Corona Del Mar Middle and High School is about 2 miles north of the island and scores another A. Students at the high school level can apply to Peer Assistance and Leadership, or PALs. This is a mentorship program that pairs freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors together for community service and other events.
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Ferry to Balboa Peninsula, tourist traffic
At less than a quarter square mile, Balboa Island is highly walkable. Most streets have sidewalks, and a walking path goes around the shoreline. Biking is also popular, especially on side streets such as North and South Bay Front. This is a small island, though, and most people commute to mainland Newport Beach for work. The island’s south side has a ferry that goes to Balboa Peninsula and its Fun Zone; the north side has a bridge along Marine Avenue that leads to the Pacific Coast Highway. This two-lane bridge is the most common entry point, and it often backs up with traffic. Summertime tourists can increase these backups and decrease on-street parking opportunities.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Karl Le
Video By
Pasha Chichagov
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Janelle File
Janelle File
Compass
(949) 379-1755
114 Total Sales
3 in Balboa Island
$3.2M - $4.4M Price Range
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Don Abrams
Don Abrams
Abrams Coastal Properties
(657) 255-8663
95 Total Sales
68 in Balboa Island
$1.5M - $21.9M Price Range
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Paul Daftarian
Paul Daftarian
Luxe Real Estate
(657) 385-8384
249 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Island
$4,110,000 Price
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Keven Stirdivant
Keven Stirdivant
Kase Real Estate
(424) 201-2851
338 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Island
$5,950,000 Price
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Keegan Budden
Keegan Budden
Douglas Elliman of California Inc.
(949) 763-5747
13 Total Sales
2 in Balboa Island
$4,125,000 Price Range
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Jon Gednalske
Jon Gednalske
Douglas Elliman of California, Inc
(605) 501-6267
3 Total Sales
1 in Balboa Island
$4,075,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 7th to 12th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
- 3rd to 12th
- Private
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Parks in this Area
Balboa Island Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Balboa Island | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Balboa Island Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Balboa Island, Newport Beach sell after 122 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Balboa Island, Newport Beach over the last 12 months is $418,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$494,000
Median Sale Price
$418,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$525,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$339,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
45
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$319
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
593
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1939
Months of Supply
1.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,669
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,766
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,613
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
4,375
Median Age
60
Population under 18
12.4%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
41.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$144,522
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$180,624
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.7%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
66.1%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
22.5%
% Population in Labor Force
55%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
9''
Average Winter Low Temperature
50°F
Average Summer High Temperature
72°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
67
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
76
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
32
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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