Huntington Beach city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Huntington Beach city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 196,010. It ranks as the 23rd most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Huntington Beach city is 43.4 years. This is 15% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Huntington Beach city is $119,885. This is 24% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 53% higher. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 38% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,047,300. Housing costs are 51% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 55.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Huntington Beach city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (59.2% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (19.4%) is well below the state average of 39.8%.

Education

47.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%. Notably, 17.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Huntington Beach city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.