Huntington Beach is one of Orange County’s beautiful beach cities. Dubbed “Surf City,” Huntington Beach is considered a West Coast surfing mecca and is home to various surfing competitions throughout the year, including the U.S. Open of Surfing. From Huntington Harbor, Huntington State Beach and the Municipal Pier, to its quaint ‘50s-style sub-divisions and abundance of strip malls, Huntington Beach is a beach city with a great combination of urban living and suburban charm.
The Lay of the LandThe city of Huntington Beach covers an area of approximately 26 square miles, which includes a coastal stretch of California’s Pacific Coast Highway from Beach Boulevard north to Seapoint Street and south to the Santa Ana River at the Newport Beach boundary. Huntington Beach is bordered to the north by the city of Westminster, to the east by Fountain Valley and to the West by Sunset Beach.
Getting Around TownBicycle: A bike-friendly community, there is a bike lane on almost every major street. Be sure to wear a helmet, though, because when you bike the streets of Huntington Beach, you’re biking with traffic -- and often lots of it. You can expect to see an uptick in bicyclists during warm weather and near the beach, especially during special beach events.
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA): Important routes include 72 to Sunset Beach or Tustin, 76 to Irvine, 178 to Coasta Mesa, 29 on Beach, 70 on Edinger, 25 on Goldenwest, 1 on Pacific Coast Hwy. Visit the OCTA website for maps and schedules.
Housing and Real EstateHuntington Beach offers a variety of multi-unit housing, water-front property and single-family homes in quiet subdivisions. Waterfront property comes at a premium with luxury homes in Huntington Harbor being valued in the millions. However, affordable rental living can be found for patient and diligent seekers.
Median rent: $1,400.
Median house or condo value: $632,400.
There are three districts in Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach, Ocean View and Huntington Beach Union High Schools, all with varying degrees of ethnic diversity. The city has a high academic standard with 14 of the 15 schools in Ocean View School District earning California Distinguished Schools status. In addition to a commitment to academic excellence, Huntington Beach high schools also have strong athletic programs, particularly in aquatics, football, softball and baseball. For students who want to get a strong foundation in the arts, Huntington Beach Academy of Performing Arts is the place to be.
ShoppingBella Terra at Beach and Edinger, Five Points Plaza on Main and Ellis, Huntington Beach Shopping Center on Beach and Heil, Seacliff Shopping Village on Yorktown and Main, Marina Village on Springdale and Edinger, Huntington Harbor Mall on Algonquin.
Green SpaceHuntington Beach is dotted with parks, and depending on which part of the city you live in, you could find yourself within walking distance of two or three. Huntington Beach Central Park on Goldenwest has everything from playgrounds and wide-open green spaces, to a nature reserve and duck pond, to a library and sports complex. Also on Goldenwest is Murdy Park Community Center, where kids can gather and there are activities all summer long. Take a walking tour of Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve or have a bar-b-que and bonfire at Huntington State Beach.
Night LifeDowntown Huntington Beach is the place to be for good food and bar-hopping on weekends. However, for local hang-outs, try Suds on Warner, the Marlin Bar on Springdale and Edinger, and Hi Roy’s on Bolsa Chica and Heil.
Huntington Beach By the NumbersPopulation:193,566
Median Age: 39
Median Income: $83,644