Huntington Beach, CA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Huntington Beach Crime & Safety

Is Huntington Beach safe?

Huntington Beach earns a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) and an overall crime grade of B — a strong profile for a coastal city of nearly 200,000 residents. Of the 18 neighborhoods analyzed, 72.2% (13 neighborhoods) received a Grade A and the remaining 27.8% (5 neighborhoods) received a Grade B. Crucially, zero neighborhoods scored a C, D, or F — meaning 100% of Huntington Beach neighborhoods fall in the safe category. Areas like Palm / Goldenwest (A+), Seacliff (A), and Huntington Harbour (A) consistently rank among the safest, while even the relatively higher-crime neighborhoods — Washington and Newland — hold a solid Grade B. For context, a Grade B in Huntington Beach still represents a well-below-average crime environment compared to most U.S. cities.

What is the crime rate in Huntington Beach, and how does it break down by neighborhood?

Huntington Beach's crime landscape is notably low-risk across the board. The city's 13 Grade A neighborhoods account for 72.2% of all analyzed areas, while the 5 Grade B neighborhoods make up the remaining 27.8%. The neighborhoods with the highest relative crime levels — Washington (B) and Newland (B) — still represent moderate safety, not danger zones. Mid-tier areas like Goldenwest (B+) and Garfield (B+) sit just a step below the top tier. Property crime (theft and burglary) tends to drive most incident reports citywide, which is typical for high-income coastal communities where violent crime rates are comparatively low. With a median household income of $97,469 and a poverty rate of just 7.9%, the socioeconomic conditions in Huntington Beach also correlate with its consistently low crime grades.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Huntington Beach?

The data is clear: Huntington Beach has an exceptionally strong cluster of safe neighborhoods. Here are the standouts:

• Palm / Goldenwest — Grade A+: The city's top-rated neighborhood, with a median income of $235,959 — the highest in the city.
• Seacliff — Grade A: A close second, with a median income of $220,247 and a well-established residential character.
• Wesley Park — Grade A: Median income of $155,553; consistently low incident rates.
• Robinwood — Grade A: Smaller population of 451 with a median income of $141,720 and a quiet, low-crime profile.
• Huntington Harbour — Grade A: The largest Grade A neighborhood by population (8,836 residents), offering scale with safety.
• Brightwater — Grade A: A newer planned community with a median income of $127,087 and strong safety metrics.
• Bolsa Chica - Heil — Grade A: Notably, this neighborhood earns a Grade A despite a median income of $77,916 — well below the city median — demonstrating that safety in Huntington Beach extends across income levels.

In total, 10 neighborhoods earn an A- or higher, making Huntington Beach one of the more uniformly safe cities of its size in Southern California.

Which neighborhoods in Huntington Beach have higher crime rates?

No neighborhood in Huntington Beach scores below a Grade B — but five areas do carry a slightly elevated crime profile relative to the city's top performers:

• Washington — Grade B: One of two neighborhoods at the B level; still considered safe, but with more incident activity than A-rated areas.
• Newland — Grade B: The other Grade B neighborhood; property-related incidents are the primary driver of its rating.
• Goldenwest — Grade B+: Just below the A threshold; a transitional area between the city's safest and its more active zones.
• Garfield — Grade B+: Similar profile to Goldenwest, with a B+ that reflects moderate but manageable crime levels.
• Oak View — Grade A-: Technically in the A range, but worth noting as the lowest A-tier neighborhood in the dataset.

Importantly, a Grade B in this context means safe — not dangerous. These neighborhoods may simply see more foot traffic, commercial activity, or density-related incidents than the quieter A+ enclaves.

Is Huntington Beach a good place to live in 2026?

By nearly every measurable indicator, yes. Huntington Beach combines a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) with strong economic fundamentals: a median household income of $97,469, a median home value of $799,963, and an unemployment rate of 4.8% — all favorable compared to California and national averages. The poverty rate of 7.9% is relatively low, and the city's population density of 2,857 per square mile keeps it spacious enough to avoid the congestion-driven crime spikes seen in denser urban cores. With 100% of its 18 neighborhoods graded A or B and 72.2% earning an A, Huntington Beach offers a rare combination of coastal lifestyle, economic stability, and consistent neighborhood-level safety. Whether you're a family evaluating school zones, a professional relocating for work, or a retiree seeking a low-stress environment, the crime data supports Huntington Beach as a high-quality choice in 2026.