"Master planned community" which 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 space connected by trails and bike paths. It’s practically owned by the Irvine Company, the home prices are very high, 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, 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 really integrate. It is not economically diverse. You have to have/make some dough here. 

The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

The ocean is 5-10 miles away with spectacularly beautiful beaches, decent surf within 30 minutes and diving harbors. 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.

Here's a write-up from a local on Irvine:
*It's nice, actually. It's safe as hell, it's within driving distance (and you WILL need a car in SoCal) of really great stuff all over the rest of OC (because not much happens past 10pm in Irvine), within about 20 minutes to the beach, and about 3 or 4 hours to the mountains. There's shopping, there's decent places to eat in Irvine itself, and a bunch of great places all across OC within driving distance. Google Fiber is coming in the next few years (maybe not soon enough for your 2-year project) and the local cable provider (Cox Communications) is installing gigabit internet fiber across the city soon, too.*

Location

The Best Thing About Irvine?

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.

Review of Irvine from a local:
*Irvine is great city for families. It is a "master planned community" which means either homogeneous and sterile or well controlled and predictable (depending on your view). If you are single or kid free, Irvine might be a very dull choice unless you like a quiet life and want to be close to work. It is not bad, it just is very little going on. There is a fairly large university in town, but even that area is sedate.*



Local Culture

The Worst Thing About 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, entire neighborhoods 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:
https://www.irvinestandard.com/calendar/

Lifestyle Of Irvine

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. Basically if you work in a professional job in Orange County there’s a good chance it will be within the borders of Irvine. Much of the jobs here are 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. 


Worklife Of Irvine

The schools are excellent and it’s super safe, and bike-friendly if that’s your jam. It’s actually very green (meaning sustainable but also literally -- much of the grass is spray painted green as a drought measure.)  And, it is Southern California -- the average temperature is 71 degrees.


Schools and Sunshine

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**The Good, the Bad and The Ugly** 
"Master planned community" which 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 space connected by trails and bike paths. It’s practically owned by the Irvine Company, the home prices are very high, 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, 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 really integrate. It is not economically diverse. You have to have/make some dough here. 

**The Best Thing About Irvine?** 

The ocean is 5-10 miles away with spectacularly beautiful beaches, decent surf within 30 minutes and diving harbors. 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.

**The Worst Thing About Irvine?** 

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.

**How You Living?** 

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 fairly large university in town, but even that area is sedate. If you’re into nightlife, look at Costa Mesa right next door. 

While there is some inventory of smaller homes built in the 70s and 80s available in “old” Irvine, it’s mostly new development construction -- cookie-cutter, single family tract housing developments called Villages, each with their own prescribed look and feel, built around schools. Apartment rentals are almost all owned by The Irvine Company and they’re expensive. You need a car no matter what. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

The schools are excellent and it’s super safe, and bike-friendly if that’s your jam. It’s actually very green (meaning sustainable but also literally -- much of the grass is spray painted green as a drought measure.)  And, it is Southern California -- the average temperature is 71 degrees.


Irvine is not a thriving city for the youngsters so if living a walking distance from a really active social scene then try Costa Mesa. Assuming you want to be right next to work then look at the condo/apartment scene near the Irvine Business Complex. It’s boring but you don’t have to wrestle with a commute on the daily. Bella Terra is another option that adds a commute to most work options but you get shopping, malls and some local nightlife. It’s also driveable to downtown Huntington Beach which has much more of a scene. 
- Irvine Business Complex
- Bella Terra


Young Professionals

Irvine Business Complex

Northwood is a good neighborhood for a family to start their search. You get a nice blend of suburban Craftsman and Spanish Revival homes but also decent commercial experiences - restaurants, with some eclectic dining choices,  and shopping at the big Town Center. The neighborhood also has some of the best elementary, middle and high schools in the city and amazing facilities for music training in the Conservatory, and classes, sports and general recreation at the Community Center. 

A good alternative to check out is University Park. While it’s right next to UC-Irvine and Concordia University, it is not in the least a “college” neighborhood in terms of noise and bars, although you get the beautiful grounds bordering your blocks when you feel like walking through a nice campus. University Park also has some of the highest rated schools in the city and has three great parks and green spaces for hiking, biking, walking and playing with the kiddos when they aren’t learning at those great schools. 
- Northwood
- University Park
- Oak Creek


Families

Northwood

Irvine, like many California cities, is pricey for most retirees. If you can afford it then Irvine is a “pleasant” option - warm weather, extremely safe, and nice roomy homes. You’re also close to the rest of Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles if you’re looking for more action. There are a number of large retirement communities just south of Irvine that are probably the best place to start your search if you prefer a planned community. Laguna Woods is a city entirely built around a retirement community and Casa Del Sol in Mission Viejo. 
- Laguna Woods
- Casa Del Sol 


Retirees

Laguna Woods

Irvine

**Living in Irvine, Yay or Nay?**

It's nice, actually. It's safe as hell, it's within driving distance (and you WILL need a car in SoCal) of really great stuff all over the rest of OC (because not much happens past 10pm in Irvine), within about 20 minutes to the beach, and about 3 or 4 hours to the mountains. There's shopping, there's decent places to eat in Irvine itself, and a bunch of great places all across OC within driving distance. Google Fiber is coming in the next few years (maybe not soon enough for your 2-year project) and the local cable provider (Cox Communications) is installing gigabit internet fiber across the city soon, too.

The reasons not to live here are that it's boring, it's practically owned by the Irvine Corporation which raises rents on good restaurants and stores and forces them out, the home prices are very high, the homeowners associations are the only legal gangs in the city (hyperbole, but never underestimate the spite-filled overly righteous board member senior citizens with too much time on their hands, walking around and tallying up infractions while everyone else is at work/school).

That said, I think it's a great little city, and the good outweighs the bad in my opinion.

What advice would you give to someone who is moving to Irvine, CA?
Profile photo for John Quaid
John Quaid
, lives in Laguna Beach
Updated Jul 13, 2017
The best piece of advice I could give you is to do your homework and make sure Irvine is right for you and your family. I moved here 6 years ago because I travel for work and the FBI rated it as the safest city in America! So for me it has been perfect, as my son has been riding his bicycle back-and-forth to school since fourth grade, and I have never once worried about his safety.

But what I was not expecting is that it is also known as a home for international ex-pats, most of whom are only here for 3 to 5 years. Even though you are living in California, you will experience 3 to 4 different languages being spoken in public places.

Growing up in Asia, I thought this would be fun. Unfortunately the culture clashes here are rather huge. People do not smile at each other in public, and even something as simple as walking into a Starbucks has a completely different vibe then in one a few miles down the street in Newport or Lake Forest, as people do not make eye contact or even look up from their computers or iPhones.

Our home costs $1.6 million. Nothing special, it's just an average house on our street, but most of California is this way… but what surprises me is after living here six years, we only know two of our six neighbors on our street. My neighbors all come home by going directly into their garage and close the door before getting out of their cars. It's not that they are rude or unfriendly, they just are not friendly. Smiling back at strangers Is just not in the daily habits of people in Irvine.

**What advice would you give to someone who is moving to Irvine, CA?**

I’ve lived in Woodbridge Village, Irvine for 38 years and have absolutely no regrets. If you find that your neighbors are not friendly, make an effort to get to know them better. We’ve been hosting the annual Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day block parties for over 30 years. There will always be people who don’t attend but we still have stopped to chat with them when we see them in their front yards.

Each Irvine Village has a look and feel about it. Woodbridge is very family oriented with two lakes, two lagoons (chlorinated), 20 tennis courts, many neighborhood pools, miles of bike lanes and running trails. We raised two kids here and we felt safe letting them explore the area and play on the street (we live on a cul-de-sac).

The schools are highly rated which attracts people from around the world.

If you’re a nature lover and photographer like me, you would love it. You are surrounded by miles of outdoor space to hike, ride a horse or mountain bike. I am a volunteer with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy (Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks) which offers many activities and ways to give back to the land. You can easily hike the mountains and catch an awesome sunset at the beach in the same day.

Do some research on the ‘personality’ of each village. Come visit and have someone show you around.



**Living in Irvine, Yay or Nay?**

Irvine is great city for families. It is a "master planned community" which means either homogeneous and sterile or well controlled and predictable (depending on your view). Many people choose Irvine for the public schools and consequently the public education is very good with a lot of community involvement and support.

If you are single or kid free, Irvine might be a very dull choice unless you like a quiet life and want to be close to work. It is not bad, it just is very little going on. There is a fairly large university in town, but even that area is sedate. Costa Mesa, Newport Beach (if you can afford it) and Huntington Beach are often recommended areas for younger or single people.

Irvine is fairly expensive compared with the surrounding area. There are more expensive areas (beach communities), but it takes a good wage to afford Irvine.

Irvine is culturally diverse compared to most of Southern California, but it is not very economically diverse. By and large, Southern California tends to be white American's with dense pockets of a single group here or there. Irvine has a mix of cultures I have not seen in other areas. At the same time there is not much "culture" in Irvine: no museums, no music to speak of, no theater.

It is relatively close to most of what Southern California has to offer:

Ocean - 5-10 miles, spectacularly beautiful beaches, decent surf within 30 minutes, diving, harbors.

Mountains - 90 minutes, passable skiing, lakes, forests. Really good skiing is a 6 hour drive.

Desert - 90 minutes, not for me, but some people like it

LA - 1-2 hours depending on traffic

San Diego - 1.5-2 hours

San Francisco - 6-7 hour drive, 1 hour fairly cheap flight

Las Vegas - 4-5 hour drive, 45 minute flight

I liked raising my kids here, but as they prepare to leave for college, I'm ready for a change.

Irvine, California