Los Angeles metro, CA relocation guide
Moving to Avalon, CA
About Avalon
Avalon is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island — a resort town of about 3,400 full-time residents wrapped around a crescent harbor 22 miles off the mainland. Cars are restricted (most locals get around by golf cart, bike, or on foot), and the economy runs on tourism: hotels, restaurants, dive shops, and boat services. Housing is a tight mix of hillside cottages, condos (many used as vacation homes), and small apartment buildings; prices run high for the square footage because island supply is fixed. Residents are a blend of hospitality workers, second-home owners and boating enthusiasts.
Home prices in Avalon
The median listing price in Avalon is $1,187,000.
Top places in Avalon
- Catalina Casino — the iconic 1929 theater and ballroom on the harbor (tours and events; no gambling).
- Descanso Beach Club — waterfront beach, cabanas, dining, and snorkeling.
- Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden — hilltop memorial to William Wrigley Jr. with native-plant gardens.
- Green Pleasure Pier and Avalon Harbor — ferry landings, boat tours, and harbor views.
- Lover's Cove — marine preserve for snorkeling and glass-bottom boats.
- Museum of Catalina Island — island history in the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building.
- Crescent Avenue — the main waterfront shopping and dining strip.
- Avalon Zipline / Catalina Island Conservancy trails — eco-adventures above the town.
Commuting from Avalon
- There is no road to the mainland. Catalina Express ferries run from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point — about 1 hour each way (approximate); helicopters take roughly 15 minutes (approximate).
- Most working commuters live on the mainland; island residents traveling to LA typically combine the ferry with Metro or driving from the port.
- All times approximate; ferry schedules are seasonal and weather-dependent.
Schools in Avalon
Public schools: Long Beach Unified School District serves Avalon. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
Avalon FAQs
- What is the housing market like in Avalon, CA?
The median listing price in Avalon is $1,187,000. Median home price · Homes.com · 2026-09-24 - How is the commute from Avalon, CA?
There is no road to the mainland. Catalina Express ferries run from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point — about 1 hour each way (approximate); helicopters take roughly 15 minutes (approximate). - Which school district serves Avalon, CA?
Avalon is served by Long Beach Unified School District serves Avalon. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the National Center for Education Statistics.