Balboa Island Neighborhood Guide
Researching Balboa Island neighborhood in Newport Beach California? Here is a complete guide with the most up to date information about Balboa Island neighborhood!
Overview
ABOUT Balboa Island
Among the beautiful neighborhoods in the Newport Beach area, Balboa Island is definitely in the top five. This quaint community is surrounded by a concrete boardwalk, perfect for active people who walk, bike, or run the trail along the city.
arine Avenue is where many of the area’s high-end coastal shops are located. Many of them sell beachwear, contemporary art, and stylish accessories. Other amazing places to shop include A’Maree’s Sale Away, Amore, Balboa Beach Company, and the famous Fashion Island. Finding a great place to eat is never a problem in Balboa Island as the community always has access to local fresh seafood along with American, Mexican, French, and Italian restaurants.
Within the area, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District as well as the private schools offer high-quality education. Balboa Island has plenty of spectacular condominiums and luxury homes that have large open floor plans and exceptional appliances and suites.
This densely-populated island has some of the most luxurious homes and most wealthiest families in the country. The Balboa Island culture is centered around outdoor activities and elegant lifestyles. Coastal living is filled with enjoying the captivating scenery of the beach, coastline, boats, and the landscape surrounding the houses.
People living on Balboa Island spend their leisure time shopping at mom-and-pop boutiques, specialty shops, and galleries. It is like being on vacation all the time in this breathtaking, one-of-a-kind Newport Beach community. While this wonderful area is small, Balboa Island has different activities throughout the week to keep you entertained.
TOP Balboa Island HIGHLIGHTS
Natural Disasters
Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA, is among the neighborhoods at the West Coast that are most impacted by severe flooding following storms that hit at high tide.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, had earlier released projections for sea-level rise in the area and estimated that the water will climb 6 inches by 2035 and 1.4 feet by 2050.
In the past, destructive waves had caused severe flooding that resulted in the forced evacuation of residents and massive damage to property, roads, and infrastructure.
Balboa Island is also among areas within Newport Beach that are most likely to be impacted by a tsunami. If the tsunami occurs during mean sea level, low-lying areas adjacent to the coast and properties near the water in Balboa Island are expected to be impacted by the wave runup.
Commute
Despite it being an island, the Balboa Island community is still accessible through Marine Avenue, the Balboa Island Ferry, and multiple public docks. Marine Avenue changes into Bayside Drive and eventually turns into Jamboree Road, a major route that runs through Orange County.
Within Balboa Island, the first road on the island is Park Avenue, which begins on an eastern dock and runs southeast through the island until it crosses Marine Avenue, which only runs northbound and southbound. While there are no immediate highways close to the island, eventually Jamboree Road becomes a freeway and crosses the Pacific Coast Highway.
Crime Rate
Balboa Island is among the neighborhoods in Newport Beach, CA, with relatively low crime rates. Overall, the total crime rate in the area is about 1,900 per 100,000 residents. This rate is about 56% lower than the national average.
Violent crime rate in the area is about 160 per 100,000 residents. This rate is about 68% lower than the national average. Property crimes, meanwhile, happen more often in the neighborhood at a rate of about 1,740 per 100,000 people. This rate is about 30% lower than the national average.
Balboa Island is safer than about 40% of communities in California. One’s chances of being a victim of crime in the neighborhood is 1 in 56.
Education
SCHOOLS IN Balboa Island
While Balboa Island does not have a school district of its own nor are there any schools on the island, it is an easy commute to schools in the Newport-Mesa School District. This school district is zoned for students who live in both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. It has more than 22,000 students enrolled and 32 schools within the district.
This allows families to choose the schools that accommodate and fit their needs the best. Newport-Mesa School District serves students of all academic levels and strives to help students excel in their academics and individual abilities. Many of the schools within the district offer a wide range of programs and extracurricular activities, aiding in building students’ characters and broadening young minds. Outside of the school district, students living on Balboa Island can attend private schools in Newport Beach. Most of these schools offer high-quality education, clubs, and extracurricular activities.
Schools
- ELEMENTARY
- MIDDLE
- HIGH
- PRIVATE
Real Estate
Balboa Island Housing 2020
The real estate in Balboa Island is mainly single-family beach homes and condominiums. Buying homes in this area tend to be a bit more on the pricier side because of the beautiful views of the island. It also depends the proximity of the residential building to the ocean. The closer the house is to the ocean, the more a you will pay. Nothing beats a gorgeous view. Location is everything!
Larger cottage-style beach houses can be priced as high as $8.6 million, especially if the house has a private deck and located directly on the boardwalk. People in Balboa Island want elegance and exclusivity, so private entry ways and extra space is a must. On the lower side of the spectrum, prices can be as low as over $1.5 million. Houses in this price range are usually a bit smaller and have a vintage classic island style and one-story high.
Balboa Island Homes for Sale
The majority of the residential buildings on Balboa Island are single-family beach houses and condominiums. Some combine a southern-style with beach cottages to create the Balboa Island residential look. These places are perfect for families who love to fish, boat, surf and swim because they are surrounded by water and have the perfect amenities for living on an island.
The beach homes are gorgeous and have the coastal feel to them, making families who live in them feel like they’re on vacation. The majority of them have open floor plans and bigger windows. More expensive homes are three stories and have multiple balconies that face the oceanfront and the Balboa Peninsula.
On the island, it is rare to find gated communities because this quaint place is so tightly knit and densely populated. The condominiums in this community are extremely luxurious, with their living spaces and amenities made with high-quality materials.
FEATURED HOMES FOR SALE
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