Welcome To
San Clemente
Classic beach-town charm, ocean-view living, and a relaxed South Orange County coastal lifestyle.
About San Clemente, CA
Located along the southern Orange County coastline, San Clemente is a picturesque beach city known for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, scenic beaches, surf culture, ocean-view neighborhoods, and relaxed coastal atmosphere. Ideally situated between Los Angeles and San Diego, San Clemente offers convenient access to Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, Irvine, and North San Diego County.
Home to approximately 62,000 residents, San Clemente blends coastal beauty with small-town charm, featuring sandy beaches, blufftop trails, local parks, walkable shopping districts, and a vibrant downtown centered around Avenida Del Mar. The U.S. Census Bureau lists San Clemente’s July 1, 2025 population estimate at 62,226, with a July 1, 2024 estimate of 62,627.
Known for the San Clemente Pier, beautiful surf breaks, coastal trails, beachside dining, and charming neighborhoods, San Clemente offers an exceptional lifestyle where coastal recreation, natural beauty, and everyday convenience come together.
San Clemente Real Estate Market
San Clemente’s real estate market is one of the most desirable in South Orange County, offering a wide selection of ocean-view homes, beach cottages, luxury estates, condominiums, townhomes, gated communities, investment properties, and custom residences. Known for its coastal setting, surf lifestyle, Spanish-style architecture, and proximity to both Orange County and San Diego County, San Clemente continues to attract buyers seeking lifestyle, location, and long-term value.
From homes near Talega, Forster Ranch, Marblehead, Rancho San Clemente, Southwest San Clemente, Cyprus Shore, Sea Summit, Riviera District, and Downtown San Clemente to properties close to beaches, trails, schools, shopping, and dining, San Clemente offers opportunities for first-time buyers, growing families, retirees, professionals, investors, vacation-home buyers, and luxury home seekers alike.
Contact San Clemente real estate agent Alma Tapia to explore condos, townhomes, single-family homes, ocean-view properties, luxury estates, coastal homes, and homes for sale in San Clemente, CA.
What to Love
- A beautiful South Orange County coastal location with convenient access to Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, Irvine, San Diego County, and John Wayne Airport
- Iconic beaches, surf breaks, coastal bluffs, ocean views, beach trails, and the historic San Clemente Pier
- A charming downtown district along Avenida Del Mar with restaurants, boutiques, cafés, galleries, surf shops, and local businesses
- Desirable neighborhoods ranging from beach cottages and condos to hillside homes, gated communities, ocean-view properties, and luxury estates
- Excellent outdoor recreation with parks, trails, public beaches, golf, surfing, biking, walking, and year-round coastal activities
Local Lifestyle
- Enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle with ocean breezes, surf culture, scenic trails, beaches, and a friendly small-town atmosphere.
- Start your day with coffee downtown, a walk along the beach trail, a surf session at T-Street, or a morning stroll near the pier.
- Spend afternoons shopping along Avenida Del Mar, dining near the beach, visiting local parks, hiking coastal trails, golfing, or relaxing at San Clemente’s sandy beaches.
- Take advantage of San Clemente’s coastal location, with convenient access to Dana Point Harbor, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, Irvine, San Diego County, and major South Orange County employment centers.
- Choose from beach-close condos, townhomes, single-family homes, ocean-view residences, gated communities, hillside properties, and luxury coastal estates close to beaches, schools, trails, shopping, and dining.
- Experience a lifestyle shaped by surfing, ocean views, Spanish-style architecture, local restaurants, community events, beach days, and classic Southern California coastal living.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
San Clemente offers a charming and relaxed dining, shopping, and entertainment scene centered around the beach, downtown, and local neighborhoods. Residents enjoy coastal cafés, casual restaurants, fresh seafood, bakeries, coffee shops, wine bars, breweries, surf-inspired eateries, and neighborhood favorites throughout the city.
Shopping is convenient and locally focused, with boutiques, surf shops, galleries, specialty stores, and everyday services along Avenida Del Mar, El Camino Real, and neighborhood centers. The city also offers quick access to nearby shopping and dining destinations in Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, and Irvine.
Entertainment options include beach days, surf contests, farmers markets, live music, art events, community festivals, coastal walks, golf, and nearby harbor activities in Dana Point. With its oceanfront setting, walkable downtown, and laid-back culture, San Clemente delivers a lifestyle that feels warm, scenic, and authentically coastal.
Things to Do
San Clemente offers an active coastal lifestyle with beaches, trails, parks, shopping, dining, surfing, golf, and ocean recreation. Whether you’re spending the day at the beach, walking the coastal trail, or exploring downtown, there’s always something to experience.
San Clemente Pier & Pier Bowl
The San Clemente Pier is one of the city’s signature landmarks, offering ocean views, fishing, beach access, dining, sunsets, and a classic Southern California coastal setting. The surrounding Pier Bowl area features restaurants, walking paths, and easy access to the sand.
San Clemente Beaches
San Clemente is known for its beautiful public beaches, including North Beach, Linda Lane, San Clemente Pier Beach, T-Street, Riviera, Lasuens, Calafia, and San Clemente State Beach. The city lists beach amenities such as ADA access, BBQ areas, concessions, fire rings, metered parking, restrooms, volleyball courts, train-station access, and stairs depending on location.
San Clemente Beach Trail
The San Clemente Beach Trail is one of the city’s most popular outdoor amenities, offering a scenic coastal route along the shoreline with access to beaches, ocean views, and the pier. The city notes that San Clemente includes 2.3 miles of coastal trails, along with ridgeline trails, parks, and golf amenities.
Avenida Del Mar & Downtown San Clemente
Downtown San Clemente offers boutiques, cafés, restaurants, galleries, surf shops, local services, and a walkable village atmosphere. Avenida Del Mar connects residents and visitors to the city’s dining, shopping, events, and beach-town charm.
Surfing & Outdoor Recreation
San Clemente is a premier surf destination, with popular breaks such as T-Street, Riviera, Cotton’s Point, and nearby Trestles. Residents also enjoy biking, walking, beach volleyball, golf, hiking, fitness, and year-round outdoor recreation.
Parks, Trails & Golf
San Clemente’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department oversees 324 acres of recreational space, including 23 parks, 25.9 miles of hiking trails, 2 miles of public beaches, and a 133-acre golf course.
Schools
San Clemente is served primarily by Capistrano Unified School District, with public elementary, middle, and high school options available throughout the city and nearby South Orange County communities. Families also have access to private schools, charter options, and nearby colleges and universities.
Top schools and districts serving the area include:
- Capistrano Unified School District — A large South Orange County public school district serving San Clemente and surrounding communities, offering academics, athletics, arts, career pathways, college-readiness programs, and extracurricular opportunities.
- San Clemente High School, Shorecliffs Middle School, Bernice Ayer Middle School, Vista Del Mar School, Las Palmas Elementary School, Concordia Elementary School, Marblehead Elementary School, and local elementary schools — Public school options serving families across San Clemente neighborhoods.
- Private and alternative school options — Families can also find private schools, faith-based schools, specialty programs, and nearby educational options throughout South Orange County.
Families also have access to nearby higher education institutions, including Saddleback College, University of California, Irvine, Irvine Valley College, MiraCosta College, Chapman University, Orange Coast College, and California State University, Fullerton.
With strong school options, coastal neighborhoods, parks, beaches, recreation, and nearby colleges, San Clemente remains a desirable community for families, students, professionals, retirees, and lifelong learners.
Overview
Overview for San Clemente, California
About 62,000 people live in San Clemente, where the median household income is around $140,100 and the average individual income is approximately $78,600. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and affiliated Census sources. The U.S. Census Bureau lists San Clemente’s July 1, 2025 population estimate at 62,226, with $140,062 median household income and $78,623 per capita income for 2020–2024. Data USA’s 2024 profile lists San Clemente’s population at approximately 63.3k residents.
62,226
43 Years
High
$78,623
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Real Estate Goals
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