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Living in
Dana Point.
About
Life in Dana Point
Dana Point offers the Orange County coast lifestyle with genuine convenience—you get ocean access, a working harbor, and solid outdoor recreation without the tourist sprawl of some nearby communities. The median home price sits around $1.2 million and rent averages $3,106 per month, so this is undeniably expensive real estate; most residents are established professionals or retirees who've built equity. The population is aging (nearly a quarter are 65 or older) and relatively small, which creates a quieter, more settled feel than you might expect near the beach.
Dana Point at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Foreign-Born
11.6%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Dana Point: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Dana Point, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.3%), and 8.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.5%
of residents
65 and Older
22.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.3%
of households
Married Couples
53.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 53% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Dana Point
In Dana Point, rent runs 53% above the CA average, and home values are 80% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$9,432
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,773,166 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Dana Point and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dana Point is 1.5 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Dana Point Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute30 min avg
How Dana Point residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Dana Point, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 52 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Dana Point runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
169.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
853.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Dana Point Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Dana Point, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
144 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Dana Point is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Dana Point, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Dana Point is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Dana Point has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
31
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 44°F | 2.78" |
| Feb | 68°F | 45°F | 3.39" |
| Mar | 69°F | 48°F | 1.62" |
| Apr | 73°F | 50°F | 0.80" |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 0.20" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 0.11" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 0.16" |
| Oct | 77°F | 55°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 72°F | 49°F | 1.13" |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.87" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Dana Point
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Dana Point's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Mission Viejo
Children's Hospital at Mission
Childrens · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Mission Viejo
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric · 6.5 mi away · Aliso Viejo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education20.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Dana Point
Dana Point's student/teacher ratio is 20.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 56.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Dana Point (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
14.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,197 students · in-state tuition $16,235 · 88% graduate · median earnings $83,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,684 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 29% graduate · median earnings $51,222 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts Global
7.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,536 students · in-state tuition $44,500 · 63% graduate · median earnings $72,184 (10 yrs after entry)
Laguna College of Art and Design
7.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 746 students · in-state tuition $39,376 · 64% graduate · median earnings $49,168 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Dana Point
Dana Point has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
39 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Dana Point
Dana Point Branch Library
33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point
Cities Near Dana Point
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Dana Point?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Dana Point FAQ
Is Dana Point, California affordable?⌄
Dana Point's median rent is $3,106/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $141,520/year. Median home value is $1,320,300.
Is Dana Point, California safe?⌄
Dana Point's violent crime rate was 169 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 853 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Dana Point, California?⌄
Dana Point has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Dana Point, California?⌄
The cost of living in Dana Point is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,106/month and median household income is $141,520/year. The median home value is $1,320,300. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Dana Point, California?⌄
The average commute in Dana Point is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from