Huntington Beach, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Huntington Beach.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Huntington Beach?
Huntington Beach planning snapshot: population 193,151, housing index 263 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $1,047,300, median rent $2,424, and income near $119,885. Expect 78°F summer highs, 49°F winter lows, and about 28-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 191.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 263U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,047,300U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,424U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $119,885U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 28 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 191.2per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 78°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Huntington Beach compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 193,151City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $119,885Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year53% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 263ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year163% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,047,300City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year245% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,424City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year80% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 28 min12% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 487% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 191.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)67% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2053.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)34% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 78°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 49°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals15.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.2 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals66% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 324As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Huntington Beach grew 1.0% from 191,296 in 2010 to 193,151 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Huntington Beach expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Huntington Beach's housing cost index is 263 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($1,047,300 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,424 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 263 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,047,300 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,424 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Huntington Beach?
Typical ownership costs center near $1,047,300, while median gross rent is about $2,424 a month. Against a median household income of $119,885, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $1,047,300
- Median rent $2,424/month
- Median household income $119,885
What is the job market like in Huntington Beach?
County unemployment recently ran 4.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Huntington Beach is about $119,885 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $119,885
How long is the typical commute in Huntington Beach?
Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, with Walk Score near 48/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 28 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 48/100
Is Huntington Beach safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 191.2 per 100k and property about 2053.1 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 191.2 per 100k
- Property 2053.1 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Huntington Beach?
Normals show summer highs near 78°F, winter lows near 49°F, about 11.2 inches of rain, and roughly 324 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 78°F
- Winter low 49°F
- 11.2 in rain · 324 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 324 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 28 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 48/100. Labor-market readings near 4.2% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 191.2 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Huntington Beach (pop. 193,151) sits in California. With median income around $119,885 and a cost index of 263, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,047,300 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Huntington Beach is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Huntington Beach with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Huntington Beach city, 1600000US0636000) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Orange County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093184 SANTA ANA JOHN WAYNE AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10