Huntington Beach has plenty to offer, but the price of admission usually comes with traffic, sky-high rent, and a calendar that fills itself.
If you want the upside of Huntington Beach without the daily grind, the answer is almost always a good suburb. The catch: not every suburb is worth the move.
So we ranked them. Using Saturday Night Science, we pulled the numbers on every place within commuting distance of Huntington Beach: incomes, home prices, unemployment, schools, the works. The result is a no-nonsense ranking of where you actually want to live.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around Huntington Beach for 2026:
What’s the best suburb of Huntington Beach? Manhattan Beach ranks as the best suburb of Huntington Beach for 2026 based on the most recent Census and FBI data. If you happen to be a resident of Manhattan Beach, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.
We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 Huntington Beach ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.
Feel free to check out some more reading about California:
The 10 Best Huntington Beach Suburbs To Live For 2026
/10
Population: 34,210
Median Income: $204,306
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
Poverty Rate: 4.5%
More on Manhattan Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Manhattan Beach is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the Huntington Beach area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Manhattan Beach.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $204,306 a year, which is the 2nd highest in the Huntington Beach region. And only 3.81% are out of work. Homes average more than $3,227,202 each.
/10
Population: 19,063
Median Income: $166,442
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
Poverty Rate: 5.6%
More on Hermosa Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Hermosa Beach is the second best ‘burb we looked at near Huntington Beach for 2026.
It ranks 7th for incomes in the area and only 1.96% of residents lack insurance, good for 8th best.
/10
Population: 12,925
Median Income: $242,014
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Poverty Rate: 2.9%
More on Palos Verdes Estates: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Here in Palos Verdes Estates, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the Huntington Beach metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Palos Verdes Estates.
/10
Population: 5,748
Median Income: $202,245
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%
Poverty Rate: 7.8%
More on Villa Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Villa Park ranks as the 4th best suburb of Huntington Beach for 2026.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Villa Park and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 83,845
Median Income: $156,867
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
Poverty Rate: 6.6%
More on Newport Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Coming in as the fifth best is Newport Beach.
Newport Beach gets kudos for having the most expensive homes in the Huntington Beach area, where houses sell for an average of $3,625,145. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
/10
Population: 69,291
Median Income: $150,245
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Poverty Rate: 5.4%
More on Redondo Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Redondo Beach is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 5.5%.
According to online reports, Redondo Beach is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the Huntington Beach area, meaning you need to get in soon.
/10
Population: 40,864
Median Income: $179,623
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Poverty Rate: 4.2%
More on Rancho Palos Verdes: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Rancho Palos Verdes.
Rancho Palos Verdes schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 21.0 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
/10
Population: 15,272
Median Income: $117,989
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
Poverty Rate: 5.0%
More on La Palma: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
La Palma is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 3.88% of people lack insurance, good for 24th in the area.
/10
Population: 32,790
Median Income: $141,520
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%
Poverty Rate: 7.2%
More on Dana Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Is ‘Everything Better In Dana Point?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 22,710
Median Income: $143,843
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
Poverty Rate: 6.1%
More on Laguna Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
And rounding out the top ten for 2026 is Laguna Beach.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around Huntington Beach for 2026
Figuring out the best suburbs around Huntington Beach was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2020-2024 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of Huntington Beach.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 3,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 91 suburbs to evaluate around Huntington Beach.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 91 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near Huntington Beach.” We’re lookin’ at you, Manhattan Beach.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best Huntington Beach suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best Huntington Beach ‘Burbs of 2026
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of Huntington Beach are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like Huntington Beach but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more California reading, check out:
Table: Best Huntington Beach Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan Beach, CA | 34,210 | $204,306 | $3,227,202 |
| 2 | Hermosa Beach, CA | 19,063 | $166,442 | $2,245,351 |
| 3 | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | 12,925 | $242,014 | $2,763,820 |
| 4 | Villa Park, CA | 5,748 | $202,245 | $2,343,977 |
| 5 | Newport Beach, CA | 83,845 | $156,867 | $3,625,145 |
| 6 | Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | $150,245 | $1,500,192 |
| 7 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 40,864 | $179,623 | $1,824,947 |
| 8 | La Palma, CA | 15,272 | $117,989 | $1,203,549 |
| 9 | Dana Point, CA | 32,790 | $141,520 | $1,736,392 |
| 10 | Laguna Beach, CA | 22,710 | $143,843 | $2,949,835 |
| 11 | Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | $157,582 | $1,419,512 |
| 12 | Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | $142,439 | $1,012,225 |
| 13 | La Habra Heights, CA | 5,478 | $179,583 | $1,399,870 |
| 14 | El Segundo, CA | 16,769 | $150,737 | $1,759,407 |
| 15 | Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | $136,123 | $1,229,743 |
| 16 | San Clemente, CA | 63,273 | $140,062 | $1,721,005 |
| 17 | Rolling Hills Estates, CA | 8,131 | $191,895 | $1,901,413 |
| 18 | Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | $135,439 | $1,094,900 |
| 19 | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | $152,560 | $1,029,345 |
| 20 | El Cerrito, CA | 25,994 | $127,876 | $1,142,478 |
| 21 | Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | $140,452 | $1,499,545 |
| 22 | Lake Forest, CA | 86,281 | $135,175 | $1,208,686 |
| 23 | Brea, CA | 47,469 | $131,129 | $1,140,405 |
| 24 | Cypress, CA | 49,498 | $130,215 | $1,085,691 |
| 25 | La Mirada, CA | 47,180 | $109,288 | $887,478 |
| 26 | Walnut, CA | 27,611 | $129,449 | $1,197,951 |
| 27 | Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | $115,237 | $1,394,237 |
| 28 | Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | $119,177 | $882,501 |
| 29 | Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | $128,851 | $1,243,180 |
| 30 | Torrance, CA | 142,130 | $116,217 | $1,124,931 |
| 31 | San Juan Capistrano, CA | 35,095 | $129,457 | $1,342,010 |
| 32 | Irvine, CA | 311,690 | $136,719 | $1,557,981 |
| 33 | Placentia, CA | 52,826 | $115,929 | $1,117,227 |
| 34 | Costa Mesa, CA | 110,330 | $111,505 | $1,413,322 |
| 35 | Orange, CA | 138,266 | $117,113 | $1,143,787 |
| 36 | Diamond Bar, CA | 53,355 | $108,281 | $1,028,880 |
| 37 | Seal Beach, CA | 24,722 | $85,964 | $848,898 |
| 38 | Tustin, CA | 78,981 | $112,503 | $1,189,730 |
| 39 | Buena Park, CA | 82,871 | $110,550 | $940,506 |
| 40 | Lomita, CA | 20,225 | $93,810 | $921,950 |
| 41 | Alhambra, CA | 81,022 | $88,024 | $937,892 |
| 42 | Signal Hill, CA | 11,468 | $113,298 | $708,078 |
| 43 | San Gabriel, CA | 38,392 | $90,488 | $1,121,300 |
| 44 | Chino Hills, CA | 77,927 | $126,334 | $996,262 |
| 45 | Whittier, CA | 86,165 | $97,201 | $821,843 |
| 46 | Downey, CA | 110,939 | $90,699 | $888,710 |
| 47 | Fullerton, CA | 140,968 | $104,286 | $1,050,944 |
| 48 | La Habra, CA | 61,970 | $100,106 | $911,595 |
| 49 | Santa Ana, CA | 312,534 | $93,999 | $866,065 |
| 50 | Los Alamitos, CA | 11,794 | $97,155 | $1,583,957 |
| 51 | West Covina, CA | 107,037 | $101,065 | $852,372 |
| 52 | Covina, CA | 49,888 | $98,671 | $804,340 |
| 53 | Norwalk, CA | 99,789 | $100,085 | $763,282 |
| 54 | Corona, CA | 159,670 | $109,242 | $764,386 |
| 55 | Monterey Park, CA | 59,132 | $81,855 | $934,098 |
| 56 | Garden Grove, CA | 170,964 | $92,174 | $1,013,182 |
| 57 | Temple, CA | 5,901 | $91,180 | $284,500 |
| 58 | Pico Rivera, CA | 60,272 | $88,201 | $753,243 |
| 59 | Artesia, CA | 15,889 | $101,004 | $878,198 |
| 60 | Carson, CA | 92,871 | $108,703 | $799,421 |
| 61 | Gardena, CA | 59,422 | $84,803 | $792,921 |
| 62 | Anaheim, CA | 344,521 | $95,227 | $950,503 |
| 63 | Westminster, CA | 89,860 | $85,541 | $1,097,353 |
| 64 | Chino, CA | 92,652 | $104,682 | $761,425 |
| 65 | Rosemead, CA | 50,013 | $73,566 | $913,339 |
| 66 | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 18,871 | $88,238 | $783,369 |
| 67 | Laguna Woods, CA | 17,289 | $59,269 | $471,410 |
| 68 | Long Beach, CA | 455,548 | $87,430 | $857,860 |
| 69 | Bellflower, CA | 76,819 | $78,722 | $801,999 |
| 70 | La Puente, CA | 37,142 | $86,602 | $723,134 |
| 71 | Stanton, CA | 39,402 | $84,707 | $793,737 |
| 72 | Hawaiian Gardens, CA | 13,691 | $76,341 | $647,288 |
| 73 | Hawthorne, CA | 85,191 | $75,848 | $883,585 |
| 74 | Baldwin Park, CA | 70,138 | $80,663 | $722,511 |
| 75 | Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | $85,441 | $777,393 |
| 76 | Montebello, CA | 61,045 | $79,971 | $827,434 |
| 77 | Paramount, CA | 52,050 | $75,250 | $648,286 |
| 78 | Inglewood, CA | 104,569 | $72,750 | $763,567 |
| 79 | Midway, CA | 3,511 | $63,381 | $248,338 |
| 80 | El Monte, CA | 106,109 | $68,030 | $765,444 |
| 81 | Commerce, CA | 11,993 | $77,064 | $696,479 |
| 82 | South Gate, CA | 91,483 | $74,571 | $700,783 |
| 83 | Pomona, CA | 147,943 | $79,479 | $690,985 |
| 84 | Bell Gardens, CA | 38,229 | $62,298 | $690,423 |
| 85 | Bell, CA | 32,476 | $61,020 | $688,069 |
| 86 | Lynwood, CA | 64,578 | $74,844 | $688,935 |
| 87 | Compton, CA | 92,698 | $78,465 | $637,960 |
| 88 | Maywood, CA | 24,317 | $60,943 | $652,495 |
| 89 | Huntington Park, CA | 53,108 | $59,996 | $675,536 |
| 90 | Cudahy, CA | 22,087 | $56,615 | $680,366 |
| 91 | South El Monte, CA | 19,287 | $72,990 | $762,159 |