Firstly why Huntington-Beach, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Huntington-Beach
• State: California
• Population: 203,392 people
• Huntington-Beach’s quick summary would be Famous as ‘Surf City USA’ for its excellent surfing conditions and vibrant beach culture.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 10,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 23,000 annually
• Net Migration: -13000 less people annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 6,000
• Number of Homeless people: 400

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it offers a beach lifestyle attracting surfers and families

Perk #1: Huntington-Beach Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 36%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 55%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly Hispanic
• The median income is (and growing)  $95,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Huntington-Beach is $105,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $10000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Huntington-Beach’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 170 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,343
• Property Tax %: 1.37%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $2,600
• Rent for an average house: $3,500
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Pacific Coast
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Huntington-Beach, Sunset-Beach, Bolsa-Chica, Sea-Cliff, and probably could include Newport-Beach
• Avg. Age of Homes in Huntington-Beach: 56 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 3.2%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Huntington-Beach’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Huntington-Beach are  Tourism, Retail, and Housing
• Huntington-Beach Job Scene: growing job market focused on tourism and retail
• The General Tech Scene: surf industry influence with emerging tech focus on health and wellness , ,
• Huntington-Beach Resident’s pay $2,200 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Huntington-Beach: 10.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 220 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 9

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Huntington-Beach

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $180 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-405 provides access through Huntington Beach to Los Angeles
• Commute Time: 29 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: heavy traffic on Pacific Coast Highway
• Transportation Score: 30 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Huntington-Beach: 200,000
• Cars registered per Person: 1
• No. of Car Washes: 7 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Huntington-Beach: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 70 of 100
• Local Airport: John Wayne

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Huntington-Beach’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Earthquakes
• General Weather in Huntington-Beach is best described as experiences mild winters with cool temperatures and warm dry summers with occasional fog
• Winter Weather in Huntington-Beach i’d describe as mild and sunny
• Spring Weather in Huntington-Beach can be described as mild and coastal
• Summer’s in Huntington-Beach are mostly mild with ocean breezes
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Huntington-Beach is usually pleasant with cool breezes
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 62 days in summer
• Days in a row in Huntington-Beach below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 14 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality promoted by coastal breezes
• Huntington-Beach Winter Air good air quality with coastal breezes mitigating pollution

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Huntington-Beach Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Huntington-Beach 4
• While the number of trade schools inside Huntington-Beachs’s city limits are 4
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Huntington Beach Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Huntington-Beach Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 8 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Huntington-Beach only Doctors is about 150
• Local Hospitals here is  6
• Full-time Huntington-Beach only Police Officers is about 230
• Crime Rate Index: 25/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Huntington-Beach’s Monthly utility bill average is $220
• Huntington-Beach’s Monthly Gym Membership: $80
• Huntington-Beach’s Water Quality Score: 80

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Huntington-Beach

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 14 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: beach town known for its surfing and vibrant atmosphere
• You might enjoy live music events at local parks
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Huntington-Beach  offers a dynamic nightlife with beach bars restaurants and nightlife events on the shore

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Huntington-Beach

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes beachside dining and seafood restaurants
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 100 scattered around Huntington-Beach
• The Popular Sports Team is Huntington Beach High School
• Top Level Political Climate in Huntington-Beach can be described as conservative area focused on community and family values
• Huntington-Beach’s Longer standing religious establishment is First Christian Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Huntington-Beach Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Huntington-Beach has 70 Parks?
• Huntington Beach Pier is Huntington-Beach’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Huntington Beach Farmers Market normally open Friday 1pm-5pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Surfing, beach activities, and biking

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Huntington-Beach Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Huntington-Beach can be described as laid-back coastal lifestyle with a strong surfing culture
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Huntington-Beach beach activities surfing lessons bonfire gatherings
• The Cities people commute to from Huntington-Beach are Los-Angeles 33 miles away Costa-Mesa 10 miles away Westminster 4 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Huntington-Beach or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: heavy traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Huntington-Beach’s Earthquakes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Pacific Coast is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Huntington-Beach are Los-Angeles 33 miles away Costa-Mesa 10 miles away Westminster 4 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 25 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Huntington-Beach has 0 days in a row below freezing and 62 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Huntington-Beach people have an average (positive or negative) $10000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   400 homeless people living in Huntington-Beach. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general conservative area focused on community and family values could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Huntington-Beach.

Retiree & Senior Life in Huntington-Beach

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can might access tax credits focusing on property taxes
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Huntington Landmark
• Huntington Beach Senior Center features a variety of programs activities and social gatherings

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Huntington-Beach, California?

If Huntington-Beach, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Huntington-Beach, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!