Dana Point, CA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·California·Dana Point

Orange County · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim · population 32,585

Investors
Dana Point, CA
Image: Wikipedia · Dana Point, California
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
72
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Dana Point stands

At or near all-time high. averaging 9.1% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $1,738,852
1-year +3.8%
5-yr CAGR +9.1%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.4%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$1739k$726k$1087k$1448k$1808k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
52/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$4,285/mo$2,912$3,727$4,542202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent155138100120140160202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 33.8
Rent

At a 33.8 price-to-rent ratio, renting beats buying in Dana Point for most shorter holds. The premium you pay to own would take many years of rent savings to recoup, and that's before maintenance, taxes, and opportunity cost on the down payment.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
69 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
84 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
39 · w16%
Rent YoY
64 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
82 · w10%
Long thesis

Dana Point has averaged 9.1% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+3.8% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Dana Point's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Dana Point

Dana Point is a city in Orange County, California, with an estimated population of 32,585. It anchors the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. The median home value in Dana Point is $1,738,852 as of 2026-04, up 3.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +9.1% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Dana Point average $4,285 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.8%). The composite momentum score is 72 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 9.1% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
●Quiet strength: +3.8% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

●Flat or shrinking population: -0.4% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
●Premium territory: $1,738,852 median home is a high bar to clear — affordability constrains the buyer pool.

About Dana Point (Wikipedia)

Dana Point is an affluent coastal city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. The population was 33,107 at the 2020 census. It has one of the few harbors along the Orange County coast; with ready access via State Route 1, it is a popular local destination for surfing.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Orange County right now.

NWS active alerts (CA)California Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Orange County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Dana Point

Fountain Valley, CA72 · RisingCosta Mesa, CA70 · RisingLaguna Niguel, CA73 · RisingSolana Beach, CA70 · Rising

Run the numbers for Dana Point

ToolCan I afford Dana Point?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Dana Point rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Dana Point to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolDana Point cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
60° / 41°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
82° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
258
~71% of year
Annual precip
22″ rain
8″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very high
Earthquake
Very high
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Dana Point listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$91,500
California state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechEntertainmentAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Dana Point

Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.

See all California cities →    Browse best-of lists →