Avalon
Avalon is the only incorporated city on Catalina Island, occupying a compact harbor community on the eastern side of the island roughly 22 miles offshore from Long Beach. With a permanent population of roughly 3,500 residents, the city has a distinctly small-town and vacation-oriented character shaped by island geography — most residents get around by golf cart rather than car (a strict cap on vehicles has been in place for decades), and inventory ranges from historic harbor-front cottages on the flats to hillside homes and condos climbing the surrounding terrain.
Avalon market notes.
Detailed market figures for Avalon are coming soon as MUVE connects each city's live data feed. In the meantime, ask a MUVE agent for current pricing, inventory, and days on market specific to your price range and target neighborhoods.
Talk to MUVE about Avalon →The Avalon neighborhoods we know best.
Avalon's residential character sorts by proximity to Avalon Bay and the harbor. The flat blocks near the harbor and Descanso Beach carry the deepest premium; hillside pockets carry a mix of full-time and vacation inventory.
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Central Avalon (harbor and Crescent Avenue)
The compact commercial and residential core along Crescent Avenue fronting Avalon Bay. Historic harbor-front cottages, restaurants, small hotels, and the iconic Catalina Casino building at the north end. Walkable pedestrian scale throughout.
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Descanso Beach area
The residential blocks near Descanso Beach and Descanso Canyon on the north side of the harbor. Hillside homes on generous view lots with direct beach proximity and quieter residential character than the central harbor blocks.
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Hamilton Cove
A gated hillside residential community on the west side of the harbor with Mediterranean-style architecture and boat slip access. One of the more concentrated newer-construction pockets in Avalon.
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Las Casitas and hillside pockets
The residential blocks climbing the hillsides above the harbor including the Las Casitas area. A mix of full-time residence and vacation-home inventory on hillside lots with panoramic harbor and ocean views.
Schools, amenities, and getting around.
Schools
Long Beach Unified School District serves the K-12 grades on the island through Avalon School (the only school on Catalina Island). Students who need specialized programs typically travel to the mainland (Long Beach) via the Catalina Express ferry service.
Amenities and access
Avalon Bay and its harbor anchor the entire city, with moored boats year-round and daily ferry service from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point via the Catalina Express. The Catalina Casino (built in 1929) is the iconic Art Deco building at the north end of the harbor and includes a movie theater and ballroom. Descanso Beach Club is the primary beach club on the north side. The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens sits inland. Vehicle access is strictly capped — golf carts are the dominant local transportation.
Homes for sale in Avalon.
Live MLS listings for Avalon, updated throughout the day. Filter by price, beds, and neighborhood inside MUVE's full search experience.
Browse Live Avalon Listings →Buying or selling in Avalon.
What buyers and sellers ask most often about Avalon.
How do you get to Avalon?
The primary access is via Catalina Express passenger ferry service, which runs multiple daily trips from Long Beach, San Pedro (LA), and Dana Point (OC) to Avalon. The trip takes roughly one hour. Helicopter service (IEX Helicopters) is also available. There is no vehicle ferry — cars can only be brought over with a permit and a very long waiting list.What is the vehicle situation on Catalina Island?
Avalon has a strict cap on vehicles that has been in place for decades. New vehicle permits are extremely limited (with a waiting list often measured in years), and most residents get around by golf cart, bicycle, or walking. Vehicle rental for visitors is limited to a small number of golf carts. The compact walkable scale of the city is one of its defining features.What is the Catalina Casino?
The Catalina Casino is a 1929 Art Deco building at the north end of Avalon Bay, one of the most iconic buildings on the California coast. It is not a gambling casino — 'casino' here uses the Italian meaning of 'gathering place.' It houses the Avalon Theatre (a historic movie theater still in operation) and a grand ballroom on the upper floor. It is one of the most-photographed buildings in the region.What kind of housing dominates Avalon?
Avalon inventory is unique in Los Angeles County: historic harbor-front cottages on the compact flat blocks, hillside single-family homes and condos with panoramic bay and ocean views, and a mix of full-time residence and vacation-home inventory throughout. Building lot sizes are small (island terrain is limited), and many properties have been in the same families for generations.Does Long Beach Unified really serve Avalon?
Yes. Long Beach Unified School District serves the K-12 grades on Catalina Island through Avalon School, which is the only school on the entire island. Students who need specialized programs typically travel to the mainland (Long Beach) via the Catalina Express ferry service. It is one of the more unusual school-district service arrangements in California.
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