Dana Hills is an inland residential neighborhood in Dana Point, home to Dana Hills High School and a mix of hillside tract homes built primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s. As of June 14, 2026, Dana Hills carries 10 active listings, an average of 78 days on market, an average price of $1,015.09 per square foot, and a median list price of $1,632,500.
Dana Hills’ $1,632,500 median list price is the second-lowest in Dana Point, above only Del Obispo’s $1,060,000 and below Capistrano Beach ($2,260,000) and Lantern Village ($2,250,000). Its $1,015.09 per-square-foot average is similarly second-lowest, above Del Obispo’s $868.47 and below Lantern Village’s $1,279.39.
Buyers drawn to Dana Hills are typically seeking family-oriented inland neighborhoods, proximity to Dana Hills High School, and Dana Point’s most accessible price points outside Del Obispo.
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Dana Hills sits inland from Dana Point’s coastal communities, a collection of hillside tract neighborhoods built up primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s around Dana Hills High School.
Dana Hills High School, part of the Capistrano Unified School District, sits within the neighborhood and gives Dana Hills its name and much of its family-oriented identity. [INSERT: confirmed elementary and middle school assignments for Dana Hills addresses, sourced from CUSD]
Dana Hills’ housing stock consists primarily of tract homes built during Dana Point’s main growth period from the 1970s through the 1990s, on hillside lots set back from the coast. [INSERT: confirmed typical build-year range and lot size for Dana Hills’ 10 active listings, sourced from county assessor records]
Dana Hills’ $1,632,500 median and $1,015.09 per-square-foot average are both the second-lowest among Dana Point communities covered here, giving buyers an inland alternative to the coastal communities at a more accessible price point, though still above Del Obispo. [INSERT: confirmed typical commute time from Dana Hills to Dana Point Harbor and Lantern Village, sourced from local data]
Dana Hills’s hillside location creates specific living considerations that distinguish it from flat-terrain communities in Dana Point. Lots on hillside terrain often provide view corridors over Dana Point’s coastal and canyon landscapes that flat lots cannot replicate. However, hillside properties require particular attention during fire seasons, as elevated terrain and natural vegetation can create defensible-space requirements. Buyers should verify the specific fire hazard severity zone designation for any Dana Hills property and consult with a home insurer before making an offer.
Dana Hills attracts Dana Point buyers who specifically value the combination of community-scale living and Dana Point’s broader lifestyle access. The community’s hillside residential community character makes it particularly appealing to buyers who are downsizing from larger single-family homes and want to simplify exterior maintenance while maintaining a residential feel rather than transitioning to a high-rise or generic apartment complex. Families with school-age children benefit from Capistrano Unified School District assignments, specifically the Dana Hills High School pathway, which serves most of Dana Point’s residential areas.
Homes in Dana Hills were built as part of a planned development with a defined set of floor plans, though individual owners have modified their units over time through permitted additions and interior reconfigurations. Standard floor plans at Dana Hills range from [INSERT: smallest plan square footage] to [INSERT: largest plan square footage]. Most homes feature two-car garage parking, with some units offering additional driveway or community visitor parking. Buyers interested in specific floor plans should ask The Knight Group for a list of what has sold in Dana Hills over the past 12 to 24 months to understand what plan types come available and at what price range.
Dana Hills falls within the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD), which serves Dana Point through Dana Hills High School along with several elementary and middle schools across the district (source: CUSD). Confirm the exact school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Dana Point is served by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) (source: OCFA). Dana Hills’ inland, hillside position places it closer to undeveloped slopes than Dana Point’s coastal communities, so buyers should check the fire hazard severity zone for any specific address and confirm any defensible-space requirements with OCFA. Buyers should pull the fire hazard severity zone disclosure for the specific address and get an insurance quote early given current California homeowners insurance market conditions.
The South Coast Water District (SCWD) provides water service to most of Dana Point, including Dana Hills, though some areas near the Laguna Niguel border fall within the Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) service area (source: South Coast Water District). Confirm the water provider for the specific address.
Dana Hills sits far enough inland to see less marine layer influence than Dana Point’s coastal communities, with warmer summer afternoons and less morning overcast, though evenings still cool with the coastal breeze.
Dana Hills sits inland in Dana Point near Golden Lantern and Camino del Avion, with the I-5 freeway close by and Dana Point Harbor and the coastal communities a short drive away.
The Lantern District on PCH/Coast Highway provides the city’s primary dining destination, with a concentration of restaurants catering to both residents and marina visitors. The Ocean Institute and Catalina Express departure point at the harbor adds to the area’s activity. For major retail, the Shops at Mission Viejo is 15 minutes north on I-5. Laguna Beach’s galleries and dining are 15 minutes northwest on PCH.
Dana Point is accessible via I-5 with exits at Pacific Coast Highway, providing freeway connections north to Irvine and Los Angeles and south to San Diego. The Pacific Surfliner Amtrak line serves the nearby San Juan Capistrano station, providing rail access to Los Angeles and San Diego. The drive to John Wayne Airport is approximately 25 to 30 minutes. The drive to downtown San Diego is approximately 55 minutes.
Dana Hills residents have direct access to Dana Point’s outdoor recreation infrastructure. Doheny State Beach, Strands Beach, Baby Beach at the harbor provide the primary beach destinations within or near Dana Point. Dana Point is built around its harbor, one of the largest small-craft harbors on the Southern California coast. Parks within or adjacent to Dana Hills include [INSERT: nearest park name], with additional county and state parks accessible within a 10 to 15-minute drive.
As of June 14, 2026, Dana Hills carries 10 active listings, an average of 78 days on market, an average price of $1,015.09 per square foot, and a median list price of $1,632,500 (source: RubyHome MLS data, June 14, 2026).
Dana Hills’ median list price of $1,632,500 is the second-lowest in Dana Point, above only Del Obispo’s $1,060,000 and below Capistrano Beach ($2,260,000) and Lantern Village ($2,250,000). Its $1,015.09 per-square-foot average is similarly second-lowest, above Del Obispo’s $868.47 and below Lantern Village’s $1,279.39.
With 10 active listings, Dana Hills carries the fifth-deepest inventory of any Dana Point community covered here, behind Monarch Beach (38), Capistrano Beach (28), Del Obispo (11), and Lantern Village (14). Its 78-day average days-on-market is the slowest among Dana Point’s higher-inventory communities, slower than Monarch Beach’s 70 and Capistrano Beach’s 67.
Family-oriented inland living, proximity to Dana Hills High School, and accessible pricing relative to Dana Point’s coastal communities drive demand for Dana Hills, appealing to buyers prioritizing value and school access over immediate beach proximity.
Homes in Dana Hills have historically traded in the range of $800,000 to $10M or more for blufftop and harbor-adjacent properties, though active listing prices at any given time reflect current market conditions and the specific floor plan, renovation level, and positioning within the community. Properties with view corridors, premium lot positions, or significant interior upgrades trade at the upper end of the community’s range, while standard-condition homes on interior lots represent the entry point. Buyers should request a detailed comparable sales analysis from The Knight Group before making any offer, as the Dana Hills market is small enough that a few recent transactions can significantly influence perceived value.
Dana Point’s real estate market is strongly influenced by its harbor and coastal position. Blufftop communities with ocean views command significant premiums over inland properties within the same city. The city’s development pattern, with significant portions of residential land in guard-gated or HOA-managed communities on the bluffs, creates a layered market from entry-level condominiums in inland areas to $5M to $10M estates on premium coastal lots. Dana Point has attracted significant interest from buyers priced out of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach who want Southern California coastal living at more accessible price points.
Dana Point’s buyer pool reflects its coastal location and harbor character. Boating enthusiasts who want to live close to marina slips represent a distinct segment, as do surf culture buyers who value Strands Beach access. Families with children prioritize Dana Hills High School, which has strong academic and athletics programs. Second-home and vacation-property buyers from the Los Angeles area find Dana Point a convenient drive-to coastal destination, supporting a segment of non-primary-residence purchases. Retirees and pre-retirees downsizing from larger Orange County homes who want walkable harbor access are a growing demographic.
Dana Point’s harbor-adjacent and blufftop residential market has shown strong long-term appreciation driven by the limited supply of coastal lots in California. The Lantern District revitalization since approximately 2018 has improved the city’s commercial infrastructure and quality of life, supporting residential price appreciation particularly in the harbor-adjacent neighborhoods. Guard-gated communities on Dana Point’s bluffs maintain strong demand from buyers who value the combination of coastal position, security, and HOA-maintained aesthetics. Within Dana Hills specifically, turnover tends to be lower than in open-market neighborhoods because residents who choose HOA-managed communities often have longer ownership horizons. This lower inventory turnover means that when a Dana Hills home comes available, it faces significant buyer interest and typically does not remain on market for extended periods. Buyers who want to position themselves for off-market Dana Hills opportunities should engage The Knight Group early, as the best transactions in tight communities like Dana Hills often happen before a property is formally listed.
A portion of Dana Hills’s residential transactions occur off-market or through agent-to-agent channels before formal MLS listing. The Knight Group’s active presence in Dana Point’s luxury community market and its access to Compass Private Exclusives provide buyers with a view of Dana Hills inventory that does not appear on Zillow, Redfin, or other consumer portals. For buyers who are specifically targeting Dana Hills as their community of choice, The Knight Group can provide proactive outreach to current residents who may be considering a move before they formally list their property.
Q: What is Dana Hills?
A: Dana Hills is an inland residential neighborhood in Dana Point, home to Dana Hills High School and a mix of hillside tract homes built primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s.
Q: How many homes are for sale in Dana Hills right now?
A: As of June 14, 2026, Dana Hills has 10 active listings with a median list price of $1,632,500 and an average of $1,015.09 per square foot (source: RubyHome MLS data, June 14, 2026).
Q: What schools serve Dana Hills?
A: Dana Hills falls within the Capistrano Unified School District and is home to Dana Hills High School itself. [INSERT: confirmed elementary and middle school assignments for Dana Hills addresses]
Q: How does Dana Hills compare to Del Obispo?
A: Dana Hills’ median price ($1,632,500) and per-square-foot average ($1,015.09) are both higher than Del Obispo’s ($1,060,000 and $868.47), though both are among Dana Point’s most accessible communities covered here.
Q: Is Dana Hills near the beach?
A: Dana Hills sits inland from Dana Point’s coastal communities, with Dana Point Harbor and the coastal neighborhoods a short drive away.
Q: Why does Dana Hills move slower than other Dana Point communities?
A: Dana Hills’ 78-day average days-on-market is slower than higher-inventory communities like Monarch Beach (70 days) and Capistrano Beach (67 days), among the slower paces for Dana Point’s larger-inventory communities covered here.
Q: What type of homes are in Dana Hills?
A: Dana Hills’ housing stock consists primarily of tract homes built during Dana Point’s main growth period from the 1970s through the 1990s, on hillside lots set back from the coast.
Browse other Dana Point neighborhoods: Dana Point Homes for Sale | Lantern Village | Lantern Bay Estates | Dana Headlands | The Strand at Headlands | Monarch Beach | Monarch Bay | Monarch Bay Terrace | Ritz Cove | Niguel Shores | Emerald Ridge | Beach Road | Capistrano Beach | Del Obispo
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