Newport Beach CA is a beautiful city that's meant for long walks on the sand, fine dining by the ocean and no end of wholesome activities for both kids and adults. It's incredibly hard to find the right words to describe Newport Beach because it really is something you'll need to experience for yourself, but here are 4 that might just come close.
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Before we get to that, let's look at the numbers. Unfortunately, this area is only so much of a buyer's market here due to the already high home prices. Movoto estimates average median price by the coast is just about $2.9 million with median home prices inland being closer to $1.7 million. If you want to live on Balboa Island, the cost is at $3.2 million dollars. You can expect your neighbors to be almost entirely white, with the largest percentage of people being between the ages of 40 to 64. People here generally work in either finance or education, and near the coast only 9 percent of the people living there have children. Most people in the area make above $75,000 a year, with a third of people making less than that. The main crime here is theft with very little violent or assault infractions.
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There are two main areas that attract people to this neighborhood and that's Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula. They're separated by a short (and cheap) ferry ride, or a more complicated, out-of-the-way driving route. Both areas are incredibly charming and hold treasures in practically every corner. Find restaurants of every kind and every cuisine as you stroll along the main roads. There are some places in both areas where you can find reasonably cheap options, but the peninsula definitely has more choices available for basic fare. The Island features one street that runs several blocks with candy stores, a specialty market and plenty of boutique shopping. It also makes for excellent walking as the homes and bay make the perfect background to explore. Balboa Peninsula just across the way has a Fun Zone with an old-fashioned arcade, Ferris wheel and the famous banana stands of the mid-century. Thankfully there's a ban on chain stores coming into this area to oust the smaller businesses, and the locals aim to keep it this way. Living here is like stepping back in time, and Newport Beach's beauty is every bit as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.
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It's hard not to think of this place as perfect, even if it might be a bit of an overstatement. You would be hard-pressed to find a place with colors, scents, homes or views though. On any given day you can catch amazing sunsets over the water, hear the sea lions call to each other and kayak over the calm waters in the bay. Yachts get a major makeover depending on the season, and hold big parades at Christmas and the 4th of July. Jet skiing, sailing, boogie boarding and just swimming in the ocean all make excellent plans to put on your daily agenda. The people here are generally made happier by the plentiful sun and overall feel of the area. You're right by the mountains of Laguna Beach for hiking trails too where you can see different vantage points of the water (and additional shopping opportunities abound there too.)
The secret is out about Newport Beach, so you can expect a lot of tourists to swing by during the summer. Traffic can get pretty out of hand on the weekends as the sun sparkles over the crystal blue water and beckons to practically everyone in a 30-minute radius. There are options here for people who don't make enviable salaries like dive bars and taco joins, and Fashion Island for people who do make the bigger bucks. This huge shopping center is likely to sport Lamborghini outside the valet station. There may not be a lot of children who live there, but you'll definitely see them with their parents along with lot of teenagers who want just want a taste of paradise.
Newport Beach has been around for quite some time, so the neighborhood feels solid. Although you'll find plenty of beach rentals and students living here, generally there isn't a lot of coming and going. The residents here are generally older and do believe in community. One thing you might find is that for a newcomer, there may not be a lot of public outreach to you. If you want to be a part of the happenings though, it will generally be easy to find events where you can get to know your neighbors and integrate yourself into events. Certainly having some sort of yacht or boating interest will help you to connect with the locals there.
