Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach (Comprehensive Comparison)

The beautiful coastlines and sandy beaches of Southern California are popular destinations for tourists and residents alike. The two most popular beach towns in the area, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, both have something that attracts people to them. Let’s take a look at what they offer.

This article will go deep into Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach.

Location and Well- Known Places: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport is located just south of Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). It offers some of the best surfing in America with its miles of coastline stretching from San Onofre State Park to Corona Del Mar.

This picturesque city has been ranked as one of the top 10 most expensive places to live in America by Forbes magazine, but it’s also one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to living expenses.

Huntington Beach is located about 50 miles north of Los Angeles. Huntington was ranked number one on Money magazine’s list of the “100 Best Places to Live in America” for 2010, and it has been named both California’s safest city by NeighborhoodScout.com and the most boring place in California by Thrillist.

Some people are attracted to the more expensive cost of living in Newport Beach, while others like the affordability and less hectic lifestyle Huntington offers.

Weather: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Both cities enjoy a mild, Mediterranean climate with an average high of 74 degrees in the winter and 81 degrees in the summer. However, Newport Beach is known for its rainy season during autumn months when Huntington enjoys nearly perfect weather conditions

Population and Cost of Living: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport Beach has a population of 85,161 according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 estimates. The median home price is $950,000 and the average household income is about $94,572 annually

Huntington Beach has a population of 189,594 according to the same census bureau data. It also offers homes at a median price of $700,000 and an average household income of around $71,09.

Economy: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport Beach is a major tourist destination and has an active nightlife. It’s home to the famous Balboa Fun Zone, which offers carnival games, souvenirs shops and restaurants. An average household income of $94,572 exceeds that of California by almost $20,000

Huntington Beach has its own charm with plenty of shops and restaurants, but it doesn’t have the same tourist appeal as Newport. It’s a family-oriented town with more of an emphasis on surfing than nightlife. The average household income of $71,09 is below the state’s by about $12,000.

Culture and Activities: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport has a great nightlife scene, but it doesn’t have much to offer for people who enjoy outdoor activities like hiking or biking. It also lacks sports teams that attract locals, with the exception of its local university, UCI.

Huntington Beach has an active nightlife scene and plenty to offer for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy surfing or bicycling along miles of coastal roads. It’s home to several professional sports teams which draw locals together on game days, including Huntington State Beach where you’ll find volleyball nets set up for fun pick-up games.

Views: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport offers some of the most beautiful views along California’s coastlines. The city has a view of Catalina Island from its west coast and the sunsets are often seen as works of art.

Huntington Beach doesn’t have the same artistic views, but it’s known for being home to some of California’s best beaches with plenty of surfers in attendance on any given day. The coastal town is also home to several lakes and rivers where you can kayak, canoe or go fishing.

Transportation: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport Beach is a major tourist destination with plenty of transportation options for visitors who want to explore the city.

Huntington is served by Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner which runs from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. There is also an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach connecting the city with Los Angeles’ Union Station where you can connect for destinations throughout Southern California.

Newport Beach has a major airport, John Wayne Airport – Orange County (SNA), which provides daily flights to several cities in the United States, including New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix.

Huntington Beach doesn’t have a major airport in its city limits, but it is located within driving distance of several small airports including Long Beach Airport (LGB), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport (BUR).

How to get there by land ad how many hours travel time: Newport Beach vs Huntington Beach

Newport Beach is located in Orange County, which means it’s accessible through several freeways including the 405 and 91. It takes about 35 minutes to get from Disneyland to Newport by car

Huntington Beach is also a short drive away from many popular destinations throughout Southern California via highway or freeway access. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along its coast which provides easy access to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. It takes about 70 minutes to get from Disneyland to Huntington Beach by car.

More Facts to Know About Newport Beach and Huntington Beach

Which cities are more expensive to live in?

Newport Beach is a more expensive place to live than Huntington Beach.

How far is Newport from Los Angeles?

Newport Beach is about 21 miles away from downtown LA, which takes about 35 minutes to drive.

What are some public transportation options?

There isn’t any major public transportation in either of these cities, but there’s plenty of carpooling and vanpooling available from services like Scoop which offers ridesharing throughout Southern California. It costs about $15/hr depending on where you live.

Is it safe to walk at night?

There are plenty of options for walking around the city, but not so much after dark unless you’re in a well-lit area or have someone else with you. It’s safer to drive if your destination is far away from where you live because there aren’t many sidewalks or crosswalks throughout the city.

Where is the nearest beach?

There are several beaches within walking distance of both cities, but most people living in either prefer to drive because it’s not easy to get around without a car if you’re staying on the peninsula where these two cities feature their downtown areas. There aren’t many bike lanes or sidewalks to speak of.

How long is the drive from Los Angeles?

It takes about 70 minutes to get from Huntington Beach to downtown LA via car, which makes it too far for some people who are looking for a place within walking distance of more entertainment options like Universal Studios Hollywood and Downtown Disney.

Where can I go shopping?

Both cities have plenty of shopping options for people who need retail therapy, but Newport Beach has a larger selection because it’s much closer to LA and San Diego.

What are some popular places in the city?

There are several sports venues throughout both cities including Angel Stadium in Anaheim which is home to MLB’s Los Angeles Angels, Honda Center in Anaheim where the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks play and Staples Center which is home to NBA’s LA Lakers, Clippers and Sparks.

What are some famous people from either Newport Beach or Huntington Beach?

Some famous people from Newport Beach include YouTube’s Jenna Marbles and Bobby Lee of MadTV. Famous people from Huntington Beach include NFL player Julian Edelman, actor Joe Manganiello who plays Alcide on True Blood and actress Jena Sims (Jupiter Ascending).

Which city has better weather?

Newport Beach offers more mild temperatures throughout the year, but it does have more rain than Huntington Beach which means its climate is better for people who prefer warmer weather.

Which city has nicer beaches?

Newport Beach’s beachfront properties are definitely prettier to look at because of all their landscaping and architecture, but if you want a less expensive place to live that offers plenty of entertainment options, Huntington Beach is probably a better choice.

What are some of the popular activities to do in Newport Beach?

In addition to swimming and surfing at its beaches, there’s plenty of outdoor concerts throughout the year that people enjoy including ones from bands like Linkin Park and Blink 182. The city has several movie theaters for catching new releases, golf courses for people who love to play this sport and several malls that are frequented by locals.

What are some popular activities in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach is home to the U.S Open of Surfing which takes place every summer because it has prime beachfront property for surfing enthusiasts who want an up-close view of their favorite surfers. It also has several restaurants with ocean-view patios, so it’s popular for people who like to dine out or enjoy happy hour at one of the nearby bars.

Conclusion

Newport is a great place to live if you enjoy nightlife, don’t mind the higher cost of living and need easy access to nearby larger cities like Los Angeles or San Diego thanks to its close proximity along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Huntington offers more of a hometown feel with an active nightlife and plenty for people to do outdoors. It’s home to several professional sports teams, so it offers something for everyone.

People looking for the small town vibe will enjoy Huntington Beach more than Newport because there are fewer tourists in this area which keeps things less hectic during weekends or holidays when locals want to get away from it all.

People looking for a more affordable place to live will enjoy Newport because of its proximity to Los Angeles and San Diego, which offers plenty in terms of entertainment or shopping options if you don’t want to drive too far or stay local when there’s so much going on just outside your doorstep.

If you’re looking for a great place to raise a family, Huntington Beach offers more than Newport because it has less of an emphasis on beach life and focuses more on sports which makes it easier for kids to find friends.

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