Is Huntington Beach A Good Place To Live? (Find Out Now!)

When most people think of California, it doesn’t take long before they picture the gorgeous beaches that populate the state. Those beaches are signature features of California and tourists flock to them regularly. Of course, you can opt to live near California’s beaches instead of just visiting them.

For those who have always wanted to live near the water, moving to Huntington Beach is an idea worth considering. Living in the city has its pros and cons and you have to decide which matters more to you.

The upside to living in Huntington Beach is getting the chance to bask in the terrific California weather year-round. It’s also a pretty laid-back city although the nightlife there is far from dull. However, houses in Huntington Beach are very expensive and the traffic can be quite annoying as well.

Huntington Beach is an undeniably beautiful city, but there’s more to it than its looks. Learn more about what Huntington Beach has to offer by continuing with the rest of this article.

After hearing about how great California’s beaches are for so long, it’s hard not to develop sky-high expectations for them. At some point, you just accept that there’s no way the reality could ever meet your expectations.

But then, you actually get the chance to see those California coastlines for the first time. They do more than just live up to your expectations. They go well beyond them.

You see nothing but this beautiful stretch of sand for as far as the eye can see. Set alongside it is the crystal clear water that crashes into the coastline on occasion. Up above, you have the blue skies completing the gorgeous scenery. It truly is like setting foot in paradise. The best part is that you get to experience it in so many ways.

Feel free to lay down a beach towel, set up a parasol, and just relax. You can also try something more active such as swimming, surfing, or perhaps playing some beach volleyball. Huntington Beach is an ideal setting for all those activities.

It’s no secret that the weather is one of the main selling points of living in California. You don’t have to put on countless layers of clothing to combat the harsh winter or deal with frequent rains. The weather does get warm during the summer, but it doesn’t become unbearable.

Even when the temperature does spike, you can always head down to the beach to cool off. Take a dip in the water or just take in the comforting sea breeze so the heat doesn’t get to you.

The weather also doesn’t change that much throughout the year. Some might cite that as a slight negative because it can be monotonous. Still, it’s hard to really complain that much about having sunny and comfortable weather year-round.

The hustle and bustle of the city is not for everyone. It can be exhausting to deal with. Over time, that daily grind is also going to wear you down. Everyone needs a break every now and then. The great thing about living in Huntington Beach is that it’s just generally a very relaxed city. The easygoing atmosphere that is present throughout the city makes it easy to just let the stress out.

Many of the folks that call Huntington Beach home are also very mellow. They help foster the relaxed environment that has become a trademark feature of the city.

Although Huntington Beach is pretty laid back, for the most part, there is an exception to that. During the weekends, you’ll see the other side of the city. The nights come alive on the weekends. Go on a beach crawl and you’ll likely find numerous parties to join. Feel free to head to a bar and get your weekend started with a big celebration!

Even if you aren’t a drinker, you can still find many ways to have fun during those weekend nights. Dance the night away if you want or go check out some live music. Numerous local artists perform in the area and it’s always a treat to listen to their talents.

Is Huntington Beach a safe area? Yes. In fact, another reason why Huntington Beach is such a great place to live is the low crime rates. The total crime rate in Huntington Beach is 6% lower than the national average, while violent crime is 36% lower. Year over year crime in the city has also decreased by 2%. Your chance of becoming a victim in Huntington Beach is 1 in 46.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of local authorities, Huntington Beach is a very safe place to settle down with your family. To monitor local statistics, you can check out the Huntington Beach crime map.

In many ways, Huntington Beach is one of the more affordable places to stay throughout all of California. We’ll break down the cost of living in the city in a bit, but many of the daily expenses are reasonable.

However, you will have to pay a premium if you want a new home in Huntington Beach. Get ready because the prices are way up there. The median home cost in the United States is about $231,000. In California, that spikes all the way up to $553,000. That price tag is already very expensive, but you have to pay more if you want a new Huntington Beach home.

The median price for a new Huntington Beach home is $830,000. That’s a lot of money. It’s also the main reason why living in Huntington Beach remains unrealistic for so many people.

Even if you can afford that, you may be wondering if there are some better investment opportunities available. What’s clear though is that you must be ready to commit big time if you want to live in Huntington Beach.

Given how expensive a new home is in Huntington Beach, no one would blame you for looking into renting. Unfortunately, going down that route will still make a big dent in your bank account.

The median cost of rent per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the country is about $1,050 to $1,100. If you’re looking at just California, that amount goes up to about $1,500 per month. In Huntington Beach, you may have to pay close to $2,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Housing is just plainly expensive in Huntington Beach. You must get your finances in order before deciding to move there.

Getting around Huntington Beach on your day off is not that big of an issue. You can walk around town comfortably and find some good hangout spots along the way.

Moving around the city if you have to get to work or make an important appointment is a different matter. Having your own car or bicycle is pretty much a necessity if you want to move around the city more efficiently. You do not want to rely on the city’s public transportation if you’re in a rush.

Traffic is also an issue throughout most of California and that remains the case in Huntington Beach. The traffic situation is slightly more acceptable in the city, but you’ll still find yourself in gridlock a few times.

It’s important to do your research before you send your child to a public school in Huntington. Many public schools in the city have consistently earned high marks from students and parents. However, more than a few have also consistently received poor ratings.

Do not forget to account for the schools nearby before you purchase any home in Huntington Beach. Make it a point to search for a home in a district covered by a well-regarded public school. There are also some private schools in the city and they are well worth considering too.

The highest rated schools in Huntington Beach are: