Dreaming of SoCal beach living at its finest? The beautiful coastal city of Newport Beach in Orange County has so much to offer. Newport Beach is known for surfing, stunning beaches, and its recreational boat harbor with paddling, rowing, and sailing. Originally developed for commercial fishing, yachting, and commuters to Long Beach and Los Angeles, Newport Beach is today an exciting community with all types of recreation and a top-rated school system. Thinking about moving to Newport Beach, CA? Here’s everything you’re going to love about living in Newport Beach!
Newport Beach, CA Population & Demographics
Newport Beach is located on the coast of Orange County, California within area code 949 and zip codes 92657 to 92663. This affluent coastal community, just 9 miles southwest of Irvine, is bordered by Crystal Cove State Park to the east; Irvine, Costa Mesa, and John Wayne Airport to the north; and Huntington Beach to the west. In the 1900s, the Newport Bay estuary was dredged to create Newport Harbor and several artificial islands like Lido Isle, Linda Isle, and Harbor Island.
Newport Beach has a median household income of $122,700 with a population of 86,000. The racial and ethnic composition of Newport Beach is 87% white, 7% Hispanic, 7% Asian, and 0.7% Black.
The crime rate in Newport Beach is very low. This safe city has a violent crime rate 62% below the national average.
Newport Beach Climate
While living in Newport Beach, you’ll enjoy Southern California’s famously beautiful weather year-round. Newport Beach offers short, warm summers with cool, long winters and year-round temperatures that rarely exceed 87 degrees or dip below 42 degrees. You’ll get just 12” of rain every year on average, far below the U.S. average of 38”, and 277 sunny days per year.
Newport Beach Jobs & Economy
Newport Beach is one of the economic powerhouses of Orange County with an economy based on tech, tourism, healthcare, and finance. Newport Beach has a strong jobs market with many people in the county commuting to the city for work. In a city of 87,000, Newport Beach has 76,000 payroll workers, 20,000 licensed businesses, and 12,400 local businesses. 16% of all jobs in Newport Beach are in healthcare followed by accommodation and food services (15%) then finance and insurance (11%), the latter of which contributes many of the city’s highest-paying jobs.
Top employers in Newport Beach include:
- Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
- PIMCO, a global investment management firm
- Glidewell Dental
- Pacific Life, a Fortune 500 insurer
- Newport-Mesa Unified School District
- City of Newport Beach
- Resort at Pelican Hill
The average salary in Newport Beach is $73,000, according to Payscale.
Newport Beach, CA Schools & Higher Education
After moving to Newport Beach, CA, you’ll be served by the highly rated Newport Mesa Unified School District. The city has two public high schools – Corona del Mar High School and Newport Harbor High School – which rank highly in terms of test schools and student improvement. There are also private school options like Pacifica Christian High School, Sage Hall School, and Carden Hall.
Considering getting a degree? There are more than 100 colleges within 100 miles. Major colleges near Newport Beach include Coastline Community College, University of California Irvine, and Chapman University, one of the best private colleges in the state.
Top Neighborhoods in Newport Beach, CA
How do you envision living in Newport Beach? Do you want to be right on the beach or do you prefer the privacy of a gated community? Close to the action or a quiet family-friendly neighborhood? The city has many great neighborhoods to choose from.
Balboa Peninsula is one of the most affordable neighborhoods in Newport Beach for renters. Stretching from The Wedge to the Newport Pier and Balboa Pier, the peninsula is home to many tourist attractions and beautiful beaches. The Wedge is one of the region’s best destinations for surfing. Past the pier, Balboa Peninsula is very residential, quiet, and close-knit. The most expensive area of the neighborhood is Balboa Peninsula Point. The neighborhood was once home to best-selling horror author Dean Koontz who sold his mansion for $10.3 million in 2020.
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Bayview Terrace is an affordable family-friendly Newport Beach neighborhood near Newport Center. The development has 2- to 4-bedroom homes built in the late 1980s with views of the Back Bay preserve. This gated community boasts a pool and spa and 5-acre park with basketball courts.
One of the most desirable Newport Beach, CA neighborhoods is Linda Isle, an exclusive gated island in the Lower Newport Bay area. The 108 homes of Linda Isle boast spacious yards with waterfront access. Homes on the West Tip are the most expensive with main channel views.
What Is the Cost of Living in Newport Beach, CA?
Is Newport Beach expensive? California is known for its high cost of living, but the Newport Beach cost of living is high even for California. While utilities and health care are affordable in Newport Beach, groceries are about 15% above the national average. The biggest factor that influences the Newport Beach cost of living index is housing which is 9x the national average.
If you’re planning to buy a home after moving to Newport Beach, be prepared for a median home price of $2.35 million. You may pay up to $1 million or more for a condo with many large estates with up to 7 bedrooms priced around $2 to $3 million. Get an idea of what to expect by checking homes for sale in Newport Beach, CA ahead of your move.
What can you expect as a renter living in Newport Beach, CA? The average rent in Newport Beach is $2,290, according to RentJungle. For a one-bedroom apartment, you’ll pay about $1,900. Some of the most affordable places to live in Newport Beach are Balboa Peninsula, Newport Heights, and Lido Isle where average rent is $2,235. The most expensive neighborhoods in Newport Beach are Newport Coast, Santa Ana Heights, Harbor View, and Westcliff where average rent tops $3,000.
Best Things to Do in Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach offers endless entertainment, particularly along the coast with sailing, surfing, and fun on the piers. Newport Beach also offers tons of shopping at Fashion Island, Newport Center, Pavilions, Trader Joe’s, and Macy’s. Want big-city excitement? The drive from Newport Beach, CA to Los Angeles, CA is just 43 miles! Here are some of the best Newport Beach attractions including fun things to do in Newport Beach with kids and the whole family.
Newport Beach Pier
This 1,032-foot-long municipal pier is surrounded by a beautiful beach known for sunbathing and surfing. The famous Newport Beach Pier is perfect for skating and cycling with skate, surfboard, and bike rentals nearby. There are also restaurants on either side of the pier.
Newport Beach Pier, 70 Newport Pier, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 644-3309
Balboa Fun Zone
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The Balboa Fun Zone, across from Balboa Pier, is an icon of Newport Beach. The Ferris Wheel, opened in 1936, offers beautiful views of the harbor. This family-friendly attraction in Newport Beach also offers arcade games and bumper cars.
Balboa Fun Zone, 600 E Bay Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92661 (949) 675-8915
Other top attractions in Newport Beach include:
Great Newport Beach Restaurants
After moving to Newport Beach, you have more to look forward to than beaches and great weather. There are also tons of amazing restaurants in Newport Beach you’ll love to take friends and family. Here are some of the best places to eat in Newport Beach, California.
Bluewater Grill
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This local chain is known for its amazing, fresh seafood. Stop by for happy hour and relax on the waterfront patio with an extensive menu of sustainable seafood. You can even watch for the staff bringing in harpooned swordfish from the water!
Bluewater Grill, 630 Lido Park Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 675-3474
The Winery Newport Beach
This upscale and hip Newport Beach restaurant and bar is known for its creative regional California cuisine and beautiful harbor views. Unwind with friends on the patio and sample The Winery’s extensive global wine list.
The Winery Newport Beach, 3131 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (949) 999-6622
Pros & Cons of Living in Newport Beach
- Newport Beach schools are highly rated with many private options
- The economy of Newport Beach is excellent
- Newport Beach offers world-class surfing, boating, and other types of water recreation
- Newport Beach has a very high cost of living
Does living in Newport Beach sound like a dream come true? If you have settled on relocating to Newport Beach, CA, call the trusted movers at Safeway Moving & Storage to request your free moving estimate!