Irvine, California

"Master planned community" means either homogeneous and sterile or well-controlled and predictable (depending on your view). The Irvine Master Plan envisioned a livable city of parks and open spaces connected by trails and bike paths. It’s practically owned by the Irvine Company, the home prices are very high, and the homeowners associations are run by a lot of old people with too much time on their hands (it is said that In Irvine you can paint your house any color you like, as long as it's beige.)

They are known for their “Karens”' and busybody complainer neighbors. It’s ethnically diverse -- there are significant Asian, Indian, and Persian populations, many of whom are international expats in the OC for several years and taking advantage of the good schools. However, it is not known as a place where these multi-cultures integrate. It is not economically diverse. You have to have/make some dough here.

The ocean is 5-10 miles away with spectacularly beautiful beaches, decent surf within 30 minutes, and diving harbors. The mountains are 90 minutes away. Really good skiing is a 6-hour drive. You can be in the desert in 90 minutes and LA or San Diego in 1.5-2 hours. San Francisco is a one-hour, fairly cheap, flight away from John Wayne Airport and Las Vegas is a 4-5 hour drive or 45-minute flight. It's a nice and safe suburb with SoCal weather and access to all things SoCal. People get Disneyland annual passes.

There is not much "culture" in Irvine. The Irvine Spectrum is a big shopping /entertainment/dining center -- a gigantic mall. There’s a comedy theater, a huge movie theater, and lots of restaurants in the Spectrum and a few hotel rooftop bars nearby. Most people work in something called The Irvine Business Complex. (Are you getting the Master Plan yet? -- it’s called “The Irvinization.”) It is also said that “they” have programmed the traffic lights so that traffic moves at the slowest possible pace to enhance safety.

Chances are you won't be able to walk from your home to go out and do things - nothing is within walking distance of anything anywhere -- it’s considered pretty soulless. But, Laguna Beach is a short drive and Costa Mesa is right there.

If you are a bit aged and prefer a calmer, safer, and soothing city, then Irvine is for you. Be prepared to pay though. Irvine is fairly expensive compared with the surrounding area. There are more expensive areas (beach communities), but still, it takes a good wage to afford Irvine.

If you are single or kid-free, Irvine might be a very dull choice, even suburbia hell. Unless you like a quiet life, there is very little going on. There is a large university in town, but even that area is sedate. If you’re into nightlife, look at Costa Mesa right next door. For families, Irvine can be a dream come true. Modern homes and entire neighborhoods are built around maximizing the family experience. Proximity to Orange County beaches spices up the master-planned community experience.

If you're interested in what the locals get up to in Irvine check out the calendar of events.

Irvine is rated #1 for fiscal health among the 116 U.S. cities with a population over 200k. It is also the driver of a lot of the economy of broader Orange County. If you work in a professional job in Orange County there’s a good chance it will be within the borders of Irvine. Many of the jobs here are in tech/communications, life sciences, and education. This is an extremely well-educated and professional city and it's as safe a place to move for a job as any city in California. Side note: consider your commute before you pick your neighborhood. Every “Welcome To” sign in California should have that caveat but we’ll just state that it is even more true in SoCal.