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It wasn’t an easy year for Orange County. Wildfires ravaged thousands of acres of wilderness last fall, while tough economic times brought high levels of unemployment, caused a severe drop in housing prices and forced many construction projects to a temporary halt. Despite these rough waters, OC is still one of the nation’s most desirable places to live, offering fabulous year-round weather, breathtaking scenery, strong schools, low crime rate and abundance of family-oriented activities.
Parenting OC magazine’s fourth annual Best Family Neighborhoods Survey takes a closer look at those special qualities we look for in a home to determine which cities are best for families.
What we looked at:
In compiling these selections, Parenting OC magazine researched and ranked 33 Orange County cities* based on the following factors:
- The 2008 Academic Performance Index (API) which
uses the results of several state tests including the
CAT 6, California Standards Tests and the High
School Exit Exam to rate public schools on a scale of
200 to 1,000. The scores noted in this report are an
average of all schools in each city, not within each
school district.
- Crime rates for 2007 as reported in the FBI Report“Crime in the United States 2007.” The rates in this
report are the number of violent and property crimes
per 100 people.
Editor’s note: Statistics do not give the full picture of
crime in a city. You can visit www.fbi.gov to view the
raw data or contact the city for more information.
- The median sales price for single-family homes, based
on the Orange County Home Sale Activity report for June 2008 compiled by DQNews (for cities encom
passing more than one zip code, Parenting OC reported an average or range of median prices).
- The number and quality of parks and cultural
resources were given a star rating on a scale of one to
four.
*Laguna Woods, exclusively a retirement community, is not included in this survey.
Population greater than 100,000
#1: IRVINE
Population – 209,906. Average API score – 898 (1st). Crime rate – 1.68. Median prices for single-family residences - $505,000-990,000 (21st). Parks/cultural resources *** “Minutes from everywhere and close to perfect,” is how the Irvine Chamber of Commerce describes this model master-planned community. Irvine continues to earn national accolades as one of the best cities to call home—including a fourth place ranking in Money magazine’s 2008 list of top 100 top places to live. It also sets the standard for public safety, having been named the safest big city (over 100,000 residents) for an incredible fourth year in a row. Combine that with the best API scores in the county, tight-knit neighborhoods, 53 community and neighborhood parks and more than 16,000 acres of natural open space land and you see why Irvine is the pride of all its residents. www.ci.irvine.ca.us.
#2: HUNTINGTON BEACH
Population –201,993. Average API Score – 826 (18th). Crime rate – 2.26. Median prices for single family residences - $531,000-864,500 (26th). Parks/cultural resources *** With eight miles of scenic, uninterrupted beach—the longest on the West Coast—“Surf City” is America’s favorite beach playground and one of the county’s most beloved places to live. But there’s more to this town than just sand and surf. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the recreational piers, a marina, a rapidly expanding downtown as well as 598 acres of public parks and facilities, a wildlife preserve and many cultural facilities. www.surfcity-hb.org.
#3: ORANGE
Population – 140,849. Average API Score – 787 (22nd). Crime Rate – 2.44. Median housing - $390,000-$540,000 (12th). Parks/cultural resources **** The “Antique Capital of California” boasts good schools, affordable housing and the county’s favorite downtown. Outdoor lovers enjoy the city’s abundant natural playgrounds, including the 477-acre Irvine Park, (home to the Orange County Zoo), Peters Canyon Regional Park (a wildlife sanctuary and a nature center), while the popular Orange International Street Fair attracts visitors from throughout the region every Labor Day weekend. www.cityoforange.org.
#4: COSTA MESA
Population – 113,955. Average API Score – 772 (24th). Crime Rate – 3.27. Median prices for single family residences - $440,000 – 540,000 (12th). Parks/cultural resources *** The “standing ovation” capital of Orange County, Costa Mesa is a thriving cultural center that boasts the OC Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center for Arts, a regional symphony orchestra, museums and of course, the OC Fair. The city’s crime rate continues to fall while its school scores continue to climb. Hundreds of acres of parks and trails offer endless opportunities for outdoor activities. www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us.
#5: FULLERTON
Population – 137,437. Average API Score –813 (20th). Crime Rate – 3.43. Median housing - $386,000-$551,500 (8th). Parks/cultural resources **** With housing prices tending toward the lower end of the county average and a host of outstanding recreational and cultural facilities, Fullerton makes the grade as a family favorite. The city boasts its popular historic downtown, Fullerton Arboretum, Muckenthaler Cultural Center and the 200-acre Bread Dam Recreational Area along with 50 city parks and the Janet Evans Swim Complex. www.cityoffullerton.com.
Population 40,000 to 100,000
#1: RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
Population 49,764. Average API Score – 886 (4th). Crime Rate – 1.11. Median prices for single family residences - $454,500 (9th). Parks/cultural resources *** RSM, as it’s known, is a popular pick among OC families, and with good reason. The safest community of its size in the county last year, according to FBI stats, this “urban village” boasts all the advantages of a small city, including access to business and commercial centers, major highways and cultural activities, with the quality of life of a small village. Combine that with strong schools, affordable housing, great cultural and recreational facilities and lots of free, community-oriented events and you’ve got a great place to raise a family. www.cityofrsm.org.
#2: ALISO VIEJO
Population 45,249. Average API Score – 837 (15th). Crime Rate 1.34. Median prices for single family residences - $467,000 (11th) *** Aliso Viejo prides itself on community and several developments – including new neighborhoods, the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and Community Conference Center scheduled to open this fall—enhancing its family-friendly appeal. The city has easy access to major highways, but all residents live within 2.5 miles of the Aliso Viejo Town Center, adding to its convenience and community feel. Planners are working to make the city an environmentally sensitive “walkable community” with added bikeways and multi-use trails to increase opportunities for exercise and family activities. www.cityofalisoviejo.com.
#3: FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Population – 57,925. Average API Score – 879 (6th). Crime Rate – 2.78. Median housing - $620,000 (22nd). Parks/Cultural Resources *** Money magazine recently ranked Fountain Valley 91st in its top 100 places to live, and we couldn’t agree more. Among its credits, the city boasts strong schools, a low crime rate and moderate housing prices that make for great starter homes. Families love the 640-acre Mile Square Regional Park complete with two lakes, sports fields and wilderness area. The new recreation center, scheduled to open this fall, is bound to be a favorite. www.fountainvalley.org.
#4: MISSION VIEJO
Population – 98,572. Average API Score 854 (14th). Crime Rate – 1.47. Median prices for single family residences - $485,000-$513,000 (15th) **** In a recent survey, residents rated Mission Viejo top in safety, convenience and community orientation. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the city boasts consistently low crime stats and schools that rank among the county’s best. The city’s slightly above average housing prices mean plenty of opportunities for young families just starting out. Lake Mission Viejo and award-winning parks offer great outdoor fun, and the annual 4th of July Fireworks, Street Fair and Holiday Tree Lighting attract enthusiastic crowds from the city and beyond. cityofmissionviejo.org.
#5: LAGUNA NIGUEL
Population – 66,877. Average API Score –855 (12th). Crime Rate – 1.09. Median housing - $642,000 (23rd). Parks/Cultural Resources ** How do you know if a city is performing well? Ask the locals. A recent survey of Laguna Niguel residents found a high level of satisfaction with city services. Over one-third of the city is designated open space, providing its unique, urban-yet-ruralesque character. The city recorded its lowest crime rate in history last year, and this year’s figures are not far off that mark. Residents enjoy Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park, Badlands Park and the Laguna Niguel Regional Park.www.ci.laguna-niguel.ca.us.
Population up to 40,000
#1: LA PALMA
Population – 16,176. Average API Score – 887 (3rd). Crime Rate – 2.16. Median prices for single family residences - $550,500 (18th). Parks/Cultural Resources ** Last year’s pick as 16th best small American city to live in by Money magazine, La Palma owes its accolades to a strong sense of community, a receptive local government, and one of the lowest crime rates in Orange County. Good schools and housing prices tending to the county’s average add to its appeal, along with a public library, outdoor concerts and recreational activities. www.cityoflapalma.org.
#2: LAGUNA HILLS
Population – 33,421. Average API Score – 855 (12th). Crime Rate – 2.17. Median prices for single family residences - $642,000 (7th). Parks/Cultural Resources ** With housing prices among the lowest in the county and well-performing schools, this suburban community is a great choice for families. The 43,000-square foot Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex, (the focal point of the city’s recreational, leisure and cultural interests), houses a gymnasium, fossil exhibit, an art gallery, the Technology Branch of the Orange County Public Library and a skate park. Fossil Reef Park, a real prehistoric playground, features 48 fossil species and is the only preserved portion of the 17-million-year-old reef in the county. www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us.
#3: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Population – 36,782. Average API Score – 755 (28th). Crime Rate – 1.60. Median prices for single family residences - $588,750 (19th). Parks/Cultural Resources **** This unique community is grounded in Native American culture and California history, from the renown Mission that bears the city name to the Los Rios district. With 40 percent of its area dedicated to open space, there are plenty of trails and parks to keep any family busy. The annual Swallows Festival is always a big hit among locals and visitors alike. Low crime and housing prices slightly above the county average add to its appeal. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.
#4: BREA
Population – 40,081. Average API Score – 769 (25th). Crime Rate – 3.30. Median prices for single family residences - $495,000-$814,500 (25th). Parks/Cultural Resources **** Named one of the best suburbs by Sunset magazine in 2006, Brea’s pedestrian-friendly communities and quaint 1920s style neighborhoods give it a small-town feel. A recent survey of Brea residents placed the city in the top five percent for service performance and quality of life. Life is enhanced by the Brea Art Gallery, regional parks, a 12-acre historical park and the Brea Jazz Fest. www.ci.brea.ca.us.
#5: DANA POINT
Population –36,982 . Average API Score – 834 (16th). Crime Rate – 1.66. Median housing - $598,500-$725,000 (26th). Parks/Cultural Resources **** Who can resist Dana Point’s magnificent landscapes and picturesque oceanfront? Halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the seaside community boasts a stately harbor, the Ocean Institute and some of the best water sports on the coast. The city prides itself on its small-town feel, particularly evident when residents and businesses cooperate on the variety of local festivals, including the annual Turkey Trot, Festival of Whales and the Tall Ships Festival. A low crime rate and strong schools make it a great place to raise a family. www.danapoint.org.
ANAHEIM
Home of major sports and world-famous tourist attractions, Anaheim is undergoing a $600-million redevelopment program that will provide more housing opportunities, super speed trains and enhanced transportation and economic revitalization. The 3,000-acre Mountain Park project in Gypsum Canyon will provide up to 2,500 new homes, an elementary school and public and private recreational facilities. Downtown, the new Anaheim Garden Walk between Katella and Disney Way, provides a unique outdoor shopping and dining experience with cultural and historic centers, while Historic Downtown Anaheim will include six mixed-use developments with a master-planned residential and commercial block. www.anaheim.net.
SANTA ANA
The county seat is experiencing a boom in residential and commercial development, with housing options ranging from trendy “Melrose Place”-style condos to affordable single family homes. The eight-acre Santa Ana Residential Village will feature 423 live/work town homes and flats ranging from 700-2,000 square feet, while the Retreat in the city’s Floral Park area will offer luxurious two and three-story homes on minimum 6,000-square foot lots. The city is also developing a Specific Plan for a centralized area encompassing more than 350 acres including the train depot, downtown, the Civic Center, the Santa Ana Boulevard Corridor and the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods. www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us.
Emerging Communities
THE GREAT PARK
Soon to be California’s fifth Great Park (the others are The Presidio, Griffith Park, Balboa Park and Golden Gate Park), the closed Marine Base at El Toro in the city of Irvine will enhance the lives of OC residents by providing a wide variety of cultural, recreational and educational benefits. A comprehensive Master Plan has been developed based on the voter-approved Measure W, and the first phase of development of the $400-million, 4,693-acre project is underway. The park will include housing, offices, public golf courses and shopping, with more than 83 percent of the total acreage dedicated to open space uses, including a Meadows Park, a Sports Park, an Educational Campus, an Exposition Center and a Wildlife Corridor. www.ocgp.org.
PORTOLA SPRINGS
Just off the 405 and 5 freeways at San Canyon lies amenity rich Portola Springs, one of the last tracts in the Irvine area under development. The community consists of single homes as well as attached town homes and condos in the San Carlos neighborhood. Offering the convenience of a city with the beauty of its natural surroundings, Portola Springs will offer 18 private parks and a public 25-acre Community Park with lighted athletic fields. Residents will be served by the top-rated Irvine Unified School District. www.villagesofirvine.com/Villages-and-Residences/Portola-Springs.
CRIME
RANKINGS
1. Laguna Niguel – 1.09
2. Rancho Santa Margarita – 1.11
3. Aliso Viejo – 1.34
4. San Clemente – 1.37
5. Mission Viejo – 1.47
6. Placentia – 1.59
7. San Juan Capistrano – 1.60
8. Yorba Linda – 1.62
9. Dana Point – 1.66
10. Irvine – 1.68
11. Seal Beach 1.82
12. Villa Park – 1.97
13. Cypress – 2.13
14. Lake Forest – 1.50
15. La Palma – 2.16
16. Laguna Hills – 2.17
17. Laguna Beach – 2.25
18. Huntington Beach – 2.26
19. Stanton - 2.41
20. Orange – 2.44
21. Tustin – 2.45
22. Fountain Valley – 2.78
23. La Habra – 2.80
24. Santa Ana – 2.86
25. Garden Grove – 2.88
26. Buena Park – 2.98
27. Newport Beach – 2.99
28. Anaheim – 3.05
29. Los Alamitos – 3.19
30. Costa Mesa – 3.27
31. Brea – 3.30
32. Westminster – 3.36
33. Fullerton – 3.43
Editor’s Note: Crime Rankings is a composite of the number of violent and property crimes per 100 residents. The FBI cautions against using the statistics to rank cities or counties. Such rankings can lead to simplistic or incomplete analyses, overlooking the many variables impacting crime and its reporting.
COUNTY-WIDE
API RANKINGS
1. Irvine – 898
2. Newport Beach – 887
2. La Palma – 887
4. Rancho Santa Margarita – 886
5. Los Alamitos – 881
6. Yorba Linda – 879
6. Fountain Valley – 879
8. Villa Park – 865
9. Lake Forest – 858
9. Laguna Beach – 858
11. Cypress – 857
12. Laguna Hills – 855
12. Laguna Niguel – 855
14. Mission Viejo – 854
15. Aliso Viejo – 837
16. Dana Point – 834
17. Tustin – 826
17. Huntington Beach – 826
19. San Clemente – 814
20. Fullerton – 813
21. Buena Park – 808
22. Orange – 787
23. Garden Grove – 778
24. Costa Mesa – 772
25. Brea – 769
26. Seal Beach – 763
27. Westminster – 757
28. San Juan Capistrano – 755
29. Placentia – 745
30. Anaheim – 741
31. La Habra – 738
32. Stanton – 713
33. Santa Ana – 689
Editor’s Notes: API scores are one of many indicators of a school’s performance. For an overall view, see www.greatschools.net.Because school districts are not divided along geographic lines, total API scores may not reflect those recorded by residents of a particular municipality where a school is comprised of students from multiple cities.
AVERAGE PRICE
OF SINGLE HOMES
1. Stanton - $332,000
2. La Habra - $365,500
3. Garden Grove - $378,000
4. Anaheim - $401,000
5. Santa Ana - $403,000
6. Buena Park - $405,000
7. Laguna Hills - $435,000
8. Fullerton - $439,000
9. Rancho Santa Margarita - $454,000
10. Westminster - $455,000
11. Aliso Viejo - $467,000
12. Costa Mesa - $480,000
12. Orange - $480,000
14. Cypress - $480,500
15. Mission Viejo, $499,000
16. Placentia - $500,000
17. Lake Forest - $525,000
18. La Palma - $550,000
19. San Juan Capistrano - $588,750
20. Tustin - $608,000
21. Irvine - $616,000
22. Fountain Valley - $620,000
23. Laguna Niguel - $642,000
24. Yorba Linda - $648,000
25. Dana Point - $662,000
25. Huntington Beach - $662,000
27. Brea - $665,000
28. Seal Beach - $681,500
29. Los Alamitos - $775,000
30. San Clemente - $888,000
31. Laguna Beach - $1,600,000
32. Newport Beach - $1,735,000
33. Villa Park - $1,975,000
Source: DQ News, June 2008
How Low Can You Go?
Not much further, at least that’s the hope of area homeowners. Reeling from the sub prime loan collapse and declining home prices, Orange County median single home sales prices have fallen 14 percent over last year and 2.4 percent of homes in the foreclosure process, according to Pennsylvania-based market tracker Default Research. DataQuick reports a record 121,341 homes were served with notices of default from April to June 2008, up from 53,943 during the same period last year. What’s more, a recent Orange County Register report found that a greater percentage of OC homeowners were behind on their mortgages in June than for the country as a whole, with the rate of loans 60 days past due hitting 3.87 percent vs. 3.53 percent nationwide.
Hardest hit are Santa Ana neighborhoods in the 92705, 92703 and 92706 zip codes, according to the Register, as well as some in San Juan Capistrano (92675), Mission Viejo (92691) and Laguna Hills (92653). These areas are experiencing far greater median loss in pricing, worsening sales and more than double the foreclosure rate than the rest of the county.
Though OC is faring better than neighboring Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where eight and six percent of homes are in foreclosure respectively, our heavy dependence on the construction industry continues to take its toll elsewhere on the local economy, including the unemployment rate, currently at 4.3 percent. And while forecasters are divided on how long the downturn will last, factors such as declining retail sales and the county’s flat projected budget may be indications that stormy times still lay ahead. —Lisa Armony
What’s New in Amenities
We know that Orange County affords its residents an abundance of family-friendly activities. Here are three new offerings worth checking out:
Renaissance ClubSport Not your run-of-the-mill, 12,000 square foot, state-of-the-art fitness center, the Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo is a total family athletic experience. While parents work out on the club’s cutting edge machines or ample courts, kids ages 3 to 12 enjoy exercise fun of their own, including supervised aerobics, swimming and yoga. Games, crafts and other programs are also offered at the 7,000 square foot child care center where members get three hours of complimentary care per day for children as young as six weeks. Poolside movies, camps and a child-friendly café are just some of the many other family-oriented amenities this exciting new club has to offer. www.renaissanceclubsport.com/aliso-viejo.
Pittsford Park South County’s first universally accessible park is scheduled for completion this month. The playground, located at 21701 Pittsford Drive in Lake Forest, will feature a rubberized surface, double-wide ramps, and swings specially suited to children with special needs. Renovations will also allow easy access for parents and seniors. www.city-lakeforest.com.
Fountain Valley Recreation Center The city has invested $17 million in a 23-acre expansion of its recreation center, scheduled to open this fall. Improvements include new soccer and softball fields and a centralized playground area, natural surface walking/jogging trails, a large picnic area with an outdoor stage, redesigned parking and a new restroom/concessions building. 16400 Brookhurst. www.fountainvalley.org. —Lisa Armony
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