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Living in
Laguna Beach.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is a community of 22,777 people in California. The median household income is $143,843, median rent runs about $2,986 per month, and median home values are around $2,000,001. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Laguna Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
53.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Foreign-Born
11.6%
Broadband Internet
98.7%
of households
Population Growth
-2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.6% foreign-born, most often from Iran
Who lives in Laguna Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Laguna Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Iran (13.1%), and 5.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.2%
of residents
65 and Older
30.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.4%
of households
Married Couples
49.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
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 47% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Laguna Beach
In Laguna Beach, rent runs 47% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
66.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
20.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $3,043,251 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Laguna Beach and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Laguna Beach is 1.6 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 Laguna Beach 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
Commute29 min avg
How Laguna Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Laguna Beach, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 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 43% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Laguna Beach runs 43% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
187.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,100
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Laguna Beach 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 Laguna Beach, 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.
148 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Laguna Beach is less than 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 Laguna Beach, 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
Laguna Beach is less than 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
Laguna Beach 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 Laguna Beach
Uninsured
1.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Laguna Beach's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric · 2.3 mi away · Aliso Viejo
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Laguna Hills
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Mission 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.
Education18.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach's student/teacher ratio is 18.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 69.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Laguna Beach
Laguna College of Art and Design
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 746 students · in-state tuition $39,376 · 64% graduate · median earnings $49,168 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
8.5 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
3.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,643 students · 63% graduate · median earnings $67,293 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,363 students · in-state tuition $18,558 · 43% graduate
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, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
38 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
67 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach Branch Library
363 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach
Cities Near Laguna Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Laguna Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Laguna Beach FAQ
Is Laguna Beach, California affordable?⌄
Laguna Beach's median rent is $2,986/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $143,843/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Laguna Beach, California safe?⌄
Laguna Beach's violent crime rate was 187 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 1100 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Laguna Beach, California?⌄
Laguna Beach has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Laguna Beach, California?⌄
The cost of living in Laguna Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,986/month and median household income is $143,843/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Laguna Beach, California?⌄
The average commute in Laguna Beach is 29 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