8.0 out of 10

Huntington Beach

Ranked 24th best city in California
33.7118828108691 -118.015037455948
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Schools
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Safe & Sound
Not great for
  • Parking
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  •  
  •  
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Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 1/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 1/5
2yrs+

"A great place to live, if you can afford it."

I presently live in what is considered downtown Huntington Beach, which is a an area of streets numbered from First to 22nd and also includes Main Street, where a good majority of shops and restaurants are located. The climate here is probably one of the best in the country, if not the world. We also have one of the longest continuous beaches in California that is fully accessible to the public, unlike our snobbier neighbor, Newport Beach, where homes are built right on the sand and people who live there think they also own the beaches. At one time Huntington Beach used to consist of mostly oil wells. As the wells dried up, the individual lots were sold off at different times, thus giving downtown Huntington a truly eclectic look. In other words, there are houses of all different types and styles, ranging from tiny turn of century bungalows to 3 story behemoths that include elevators and rooftop decks with ocean views. We also are one of the few communities where somebody can still actually walk to a local grocery store, laundromat, bar, restaurant or park, not to mention the beach. There are little stores located all over our downtown neighborhoods, which is a true rarity in most cities in Southern CA, where gated communities have become the norm. Property taxes are reasonable, thanks to Prop. 3 mostly. However, if you are looking to buy right now, the lowest you can expect to pay is about 400K for a beachfront condo. Single family homes typically range anywhere from 750k up to 3 million. Downtown is a very safe place to live, as our main police station is located about 5 minutes away and we have a fairly large force with not much to do. I believe car theft is the biggest crime downtown and probably wouldn't surprise me if people do that just so they can secure their parking spaces, since the streets can get crowded in the summertime. We are probably best known for our huge 4th of July celebration, which includes a parade down Main St. each year as well as awesome fireworks by the ocean. We also host the surfing championships every August and recently started having a first class air show downtown too. In addition to that, we have Art-A-Faire each Friday at the Pier, where local artists sell their wares as well as a Farmer's market. There are many fire pits at the beach, where you can have your own private party at night. Just be aware that both our city and state beach close at 11 pm. (Bummer!)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach Lovers
shereec3
shereec3 Thank you so much for the information we are relocating in July and Huntington beach was my first pick. Glad to have read your review
2yrs+
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5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Life’s a Beach in Surf City, USA"

With a population of almost 200,000, Huntington Beach is the largest beach city in Orange County. Residents of the city are lucky enough to enjoy a mild climate with plenty of ocean breezes and an abundance of recreational opportunities. Besides hanging out at the beach and surfing, there are miles of bike trails along the beach and next to the Santa Ana River. Boats can launched from a public boat ramp in Huntington Harbour and many boating residents of the Harbour are lucky enough to have a private dock.

Huntington Beach is a legendary city due to its role in the history of professional surfing. It even has a Surf Museum where you can lean all about the growth of the sport in the 20th century. There are 8.5 miles of wide sandy beaches within the city limits. The surf conditions are enhanced by the presence of sandbars and by the fact that the beach faces to the southwest.

The majority of the neighborhoods in Huntington Beach are built around small parks and enclosed by brick walls. This detracts from the scenic nature of many of the major streets, but provides residents with increased safety and quiet. In the center of the city is Central Park, one of the hidden treasures of the city. The 350-acre park, located on two sides of Golden West Street, includes a sports complex, Central Library, the Huntington Beach Playhouse, Shipley’s Nature Center, a Frisbee golf course, a stocked lake, an amphitheater, two casual restaurants and several miles of trails for walking and bike riding. Community events and concerts are held in Central Park throughout the year.

No description of Huntington Beach would be complete without mentioning the Huntington Beach Pier and Main Street area. Known by locals as “downtown,” Main Street is a magnet for tourists during the summer. It has been transformed in the past two decades from a rundown street with funky surf shops to a more family-friendly destination with trendy bars, shops and restaurants. The pier, originally built in 1909 and then rebuilt in 1992 after its destruction by high surf, is an iconic symbol of the spirit of Huntington Beach.

Mix in a great school system, plenty of local shopping, a low unemployment rate and easy access to the 405 freeway and it’s no wonder that many people consider Huntington Beach to be one of the best places to live in Orange County. I grew up 30 miles inland and came to Huntington Beach as a teenager. Now I’m lucky enough to call it home.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Surf City of Orange County"

Fondly known as the Surf City, Huntington Beach is a city by the seaside in Orange County, California. Well known for its lovely beach and weather, Huntington Beach is a well-known hot spot for fun water activities such as surfing.

Bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the Southwest, Huntington Beach is very well known for its 8.5 mile long beach that creates very unique waves which occur as a result of them diffracting off the Catalina Islands.

Orange County Register readers have recognized Huntington Beach as the “Best City to Live in Orange County”. The residents of Huntington Beach enjoy many types of housing facilities, great weather, good jobs, a stable economy and good health care. Their children also enjoy studying in an outstanding educational system. Huntington Beach has several elementary schools and 5 high schools. Also their residents can pursue higher education at nearby locations like the Golden West College, the University of California (Irvine) and even at some California State Universities. Amongst cities with a population over 100 000, FBI has ranked Huntington Beach with the eight lowest crime rate and has consistently been regarded as a safe city. This great Orange County city is well regarded as the ideal place to live in the Orange County.

Residents and visitors can also enjoy the numerous boat marinas and parks. Along with surfing, Huntington Beach offers many kinds of outdoor activities like sailing, beach volleyball, fishing, tennis and golf. There is something for everyone to enjoy. One can find many ways to have fun shopping, dining and entertainment. You could choose from casual dining to fine dining and shop at the local stores, boutiques and national chains and also enjoy shopping in their open air malls.

Huntington Beach is also a great spot for those who appreciate the arts arena. One could enjoy musical shows like the Smooth Jazz Concert Series and the Pier Plaza Presents Concert Series at theaters such as the Huntington Beach Playhouse.

Huntington Beach is also greatly known as one of the best regions for a nice vacation. Huntington Beach houses one of the biggest recreational piers in the world that comes with riding stables, parks, marina, wildlife preserve and many other recreational hotspots. This great city is also near many of the prominent places of interests within the Orange County and is located near three airports – the Los Angeles International, John Wayne and Long Beach Airports.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 2/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Like a permanent vacation, but with lots of tourists"

Huntington Beach is just like any other city, until you get down by Main Street – that is where the beach and all the action are. In addition to the surf and sand, Main Street has plenty of surf shops, bars and great restaurants. The whole vibe of this area is very casual and flip flops and shorts are allowed every where. However, if you are ever looking for a semi-fancy place to take someone for dinner, Sparks and Cucina Alessa will do, but, if you want something a little more high class, you’re better off going to Newport.

If you live near Main St., the numbered streets, due to their proximity to the beach, has the most transient portion of the population – there are a lot of rental properties there and a lot of partiers. Sometimes that works out though, as you might be the one making the noise – no one will call the cops on you. In the summer, parking is a nightmare, unless you have an assigned parking space or make it to the parking structure on Main before it fills up. The area south of Main Street is a bit more subdued, but, it doesn’t have the easy access to the beach.

There are plenty of grocery stores around Main Street, but, commuting from there is a pain. Beach Boulevard is always jam packed with traffic and that’s the main way to get to the nearest freeway (the 405).

Lately, due to the popularity of UFC, going out to the bars at night has gotten to be a bit sketchy and Huntington has taken a turn for the worse. One of my friends got punched for no reason by a UFC wanna be because he accidentally bumped into him at the bar. If you want to avoid that crowd, Perqs and Fred’s are good choices. Other than that, Huntington Beach is very safe and you’ll feel like you’re on a permanent vacation!
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"The street where everything comes together"

Living in Huntington Beach I would have to say that Main Street is where everything comes together. There is alot to do on Main Street, from resturaunts to nightclubs, to so many stores to choose from that even the pickiest shopper would be happy. If you are on Main street and happen to be close to the beach you never know who you may see. Ive been on Main street and while standing in line to get a coffee in walked Jesse James. Now thats kewl
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids

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