What are the schools like in Dana Point, CA?

Dana Point is served primarily by Capistrano Unified. The district operates 36 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 23.0:1.

What is the median household income in Dana Point?

The median household income in Dana Point, CA is $119,632 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Dana Point, CA?

Dana Point has an average high temperature of 68.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 12.7 inches.

Dana Point, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Dana Point, CA affordable or expensive?

Dana Point's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dana Point is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,141,400 and the median rent is $2,606 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dana Point, CA?

Dana Point has a violent crime rate of 185.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 873.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dana Point, CA a Good Place to Live?

Dana Point is a small city of 33,025 in California, with a median household income of $119,632 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Dana Point stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Dana Point is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dana Point city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 115.5

Dana Point's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dana Point costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Dana Point, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,141,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,606	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$119,632	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dana Point's violent crime rate is 185.2 per 100,000 residents — 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

185.2 /100k

Property Crime

873.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Dana Point is served primarily by Capistrano Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dana Point, CA	National Avg
School District	Capistrano Unified	—
Elementary Schools	36	—
Middle Schools	13	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	23.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	55.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dana Point sees average highs of 68.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July, with 12.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Dana Point, CA
Average High — January	68.4°F
Average High — July	79.5°F
Annual Precipitation	12.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Dana Point, CA	National Avg
Population	33,025	—
Median Age	49.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	28.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.9%	22.2%
65 and over	23.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

San Juan Capistrano, CA 3 mi Laguna Niguel, CA 4 mi San Clemente, CA 5 mi Ladera Ranch, CA 6 mi Laguna Beach, CA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Dana Point

Dana Point, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

92629 92624

Dana Point vs Other Cities

Dana Point, CA vs San Juan Capistrano, CA Dana Point, CA vs Laguna Niguel, CA Dana Point, CA vs San Clemente, CA Dana Point, CA vs Ladera Ranch, CA Dana Point, CA vs Laguna Beach, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dana Point, CA affordable or expensive?

Dana Point's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Dana Point roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,141,400 and median rent is $2,606/month.

What is the crime rate in Dana Point, CA?

Dana Point's violent crime rate is 185.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 873.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dana Point?

Public schools in Dana Point are operated by Capistrano Unified. The district has 36 elementary, 13 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.0:1. 55.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dana Point, CA a good place to live?

Dana Point, CA has a population of 33,025, a median household income of $119,632, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Dana Point?

Dana Point averages 68.4°F in January and 79.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dana Point?

Dana Point, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 92629, 92624.

What is the population of Dana Point?

The population of Dana Point, California is 33,025 with a median age of 49.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dana Point?

Key numbers for living in Dana Point: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $1,141,400, median household income $119,632, crime index 46 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dana Point side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.