L aguna Beach, California is an affluent bedroom community located in flourishing Orange County. Residents here enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and appreciate following in the footsteps of the famous residents who first inhabited the town. The area has maintained the feel of a resort since its earliest incarnations. Celebrities and vacationers alike have flocked to this little seaside burg since the early 1900's. Some of the first folks to discover Laguna Beach's rejuvenating qualities were plein air painters, who established the area as an artist's colony. Today, Laguna maintains a number of important galleries and festivals that celebrate this rich heritage.

One of these is the world-renowned Pageant of the Masters. Held every summer since 1932, this festival is two months long. The highlight is the nightly show, featuring live models reenacting classic paintings. Laguna Beach also hosts the Sawdust Festival during this time. Bringing together the best of American art, the offerings range from wood carving to glass blowing. These outdoor exhibits are staged against a backdrop of flowers, trees and running water of every type. Musicians, jugglers, puppeteers and magicians stroll through the crowds to entertain the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to see these two events each year.

Laguna Beach is home to some of the best medical facilities located within Orange County. A large mall and many fine restaurants, laguna Hills enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in Orange County.

Residents in Laguna Beach also take pride in walking in the footsteps of famous former residents. After the original colony of artists came to Laguna, the Hollywood legends followed. Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Rooney all called this town home. They also worked to found the Laguna Playhouse in 1920. Still an active attraction and theater, the Playhouse is the oldest continuously operating theater company on the west coast. Here you might get the chance to see the debut of a nationally acclaimed play or touring act. It was said to have been an influence on John Steinbeck while he wrote the acclaimed novel Tortilla Flats. Other major attractions such as the White House and the Cabrillo Ballroom have, and continue, to draw the rich and famous as well as visiting dignitaries. From Presidents to famous actors, you just never know who you might run into in Laguna Beach.

Laguna's approximately 24,000 residents are affluent and educated. The median age here is 43 years old, with an average household income above the national average, at approximately $75,000 per year. At present, average condo/townhome prices are about $1.2 million and range from a low of around $500,000 to a high of over $3 million. Single-family detached home prices average about $2.5 million and range from a low of around $800,000 to a high of over $20 million. Long-term rentals range from a low of around $750 per month to a high of over $13,000 per month, with an average of just over $3,000 per month. The vast majority of folks here work in professional services, followed by the manufacturing and retail sectors. With only approximately 2,350 students enrolled in public schools, Laguna Beach has an enviable student to teacher ratio and boasts consistently high test scores.

Laguna Beach only encompasses about eight miles within Orange County. But there are dozens of neighborhood parks within its boundaries. Some of these feature tennis courts, playground equipment, baseball diamonds and basketball courts. Others are settled right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and have dedicated jogging trails, formal gardens, lawn bowling and shuffleboard courts. You can learn about marine refuge at the tidepools, or host a special event at the gazebos or Monument Point. Still others offer bike trails, sand volleyball, and spectacular viewing platforms.

Laguna Beach is a scenic haven. Its amenities are carefully maintained with a precision that creates a sense of effortless order and relaxation for its residents. With its small public school enrollment, it is an ideal place to raise a family. If you are thinking of moving to Laguna Beach, California, ask for our free relocation packet today!