Newport Beach and Laguna Niguel receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Newport Beach | Laguna Niguel | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 83,845 | 64,139 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $156,867 | $140,452 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $112,622 | $77,395 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,523/sq mi | 4,353/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $1,190,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,316 | $2,903 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 52.1% | 67.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.6% | 59.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 6.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 157 | 16 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -0.6% | 60.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 79°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 49°F | 49°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.2" | 11.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 28.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.9 | 47.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.87 | 21.26 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 30.6% | 32.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Newport Beach
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Laguna Niguel
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Newport Beach, CA · Laguna Niguel, CA · How this is calculated: methodology