Downtown Neighborhood Guide
Researching Downtown neighborhood in Huntington Beach California? Here is a complete guide with the most up to date information about Downtown neighborhood!
Overview
ABOUT Downtown
Huntington Beach is a beach town, and the site of the world championship of surfing. The Downtown area offers a great selection of bars and restaurants. Hotels right on the beach accommodate either business or pleasure travelers. The beach alone provides an infinite number of possibilities.
Visitors can rent a horse, Segway, electric, bike, paddle board, or kayak, or play volleyball or disc golf, or take a bus or boat tour. Charter trips are available for deep-sea fishing, and for whale watching. Take a ferry to Catalina Island. Beyond every imaginable beach activity, the area is also surrounded by other natural attractions and outdoor activities.
Souvenir shops, surf shops, and both trendy and vintage boutiques await shoppers on Main Street and along the Pacific Coast Highway. For the partying types, there are breweries, lounges, bars, and dance clubs to explore.
Just over 1,000 people live here on the edge of Surf City. Over half of them are California natives, and it comes through in the outdoorsy, beachy vibe here. The residents tend to be in their mid to late 40s, almost 40% are married, and over a third of them have children. About 7 people live in the average household.
Residents mostly work in sales and management positions, business and financial industries, and in service occupations. Over a third have a Bachelor’s degree. This neighborhood is low in crime. It’s a dog-friendly neighborhood that offers dining and public spaces, as well as hotels that welcome canine family members.
TOP Downtown HIGHLIGHTS
Natural Disasters
Although tornado events are not as prevalent in California as other parts of the country, the local tornado index comes in at 50.87. This is higher than the state’s index of 18.56. That said, Downtown residents should be mindful of weather conditions that can lead to damaging winds and tornados.
Even higher than the tornado index is the local earthquake index, which is almost 4 times the state’s index. Historical data and ongoing trends indicate this region has more frequent seismic activity than many areas nationwide.
Wildfires are also recorded in this part of California, and widespread fires may cause dangerously poor air quality.
Commute
The iconic Pacific Coast Highway, State Route 1, gives access to coastal destinations both north and south, such as Long Beach and Newport Beach. On the southern end of the neighborhood, Beach Boulevard – State Route 39 – leads travelers to Interstate 405.
I-405, also known as the San Diego Freeway, is a major interstate highway giving access to points from Inglewood in the north to Irvine in the south. In addition to being literally across the street from the beach, this neighborhood is only minutes away from a number of other natural and public spaces and a variety of activities including shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Crime Rate
Downtown’s crime index contributes to this neighborhood being considered safer than about 25% of all residential areas in the country.
The neighborhood’s estimated violent crime rate per 1,000 residents tracks around 2.14. Meanwhile, the property crime rate per 1,000 residents is roughly 19.97. Notably, both rates fall under statewide and national rates. Specifically, California’s same violent crime rate is 4.47, and the state’s reported property crime rate is 23.8
The estimated odds of experiencing a property crime in Downtown are about 1 in 50. Additionally, the chances of being the target of a violent crime in Downtown are 1 in 467.
Education
SCHOOLS IN Downtown
The Downtown neighborhood is in the Huntington Beach City Elementary School District and the Huntington Beach Union High School District. In addition to regular public schools, residents have access to a public charter school serving elementary- and middle school-aged students, and alternative and independent study high school campuses, as well as a number of private school options for all grade levels. Courses are also available through an affiliated adult school.
When compared to other schools in the state, schools in this area tend to rank high in measures of academic success, such as standardized test scores as well as in college readiness. Some of these schools score far above the average for schools in California. They all get high marks for diversity and equality, ensuring that minority students and students with economic disadvantages receive what they need to achieve academic success. Other nearby school districts include Ocean View to the north and Fountain Valley to the east.
Schools
- ELEMENTARY
- MIDDLE
- HIGH
- PRIVATE
Real Estate
Downtown Housing 2020
The median list price of homes in the Downtown neighborhood tends to stay generally flat from one year to the next. That median rose by almost half between January and May of 2017, and has stayed at that new normal in the intervening years. There are at times striking disparities between median list prices and median sold prices in this neighborhood.
In December 2018, homes in this neighborhood sold for just under 5% below the asking price. Downtown Huntington Beach was a seller’s market – there were more people looking for homes to buy than the number of homes available. Homes in this area typically stay on the market around 97 days. That varies widely, and homes can spend from 50 to 150 days on the market.
Downtown Homes for Sale
The Downtown neighborhood offers a wide variety of housing options. As well as homes and condos for sale, short- and long-term rentals of all kinds can be found in all areas of the neighborhood. Many homes sit right on the famed Pacific Coast Highway and offer stunning ocean views and sunset scenery. These are often built long and narrow, to offer the scenic beach views to as many residents as possible.
Architectural styles vary widely, and include the Spanish mission style, Mediterranean, Craftsman traditional, and stark and sleek modern styles. Whatever the type of dwelling, most are open, bright, and airy. Whenever possible, they seek to take advantage of the views of the famed Huntington Beach pier and the Pacific Ocean and the sea breezes.
Many homes include luxurious details such as soaring ceilings, gourmet kitchens, stone counters and spa-like baths. Outdoor living and entertaining spaces are popular to take advantage of the region’s agreeable climate.
FEATURED HOMES FOR SALE
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