Let’s get this out of the way; Santa Ana is largely frowned upon by the rest of Orange County, particularly, of course, coastal Orange County. The crime and homelessness really makes them clutch their pearls. But, if you’re coming from elsewhere you’re going to notice that it’s still SoCal climate and there are some nice neighborhoods. 

Although downtown Santa Ana was the subject of a revitalization effort and it’s got lots of accoutrements, Downtown is generally a place you go, not a place you live. The upper-middle and middle-class subdivisions are set apart from the rest of Santa Ana. Santa Ana is not necessarily an inexpensive place to settle by any means. Up in the hills, behind gates one can also live in the Santa Ana zip code. 

The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

Santa Ana is centrally located and a quick drive to beaches and John Wayne Airport. 
Shopping is diverse including South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa)  It is centrally located to the rest of Orange County, ten minutes from the beach, 2 hours from the mountains, 1 hour to LA, and 2 hours to San Diego. Also, the candy/produce/snack vans/trucks. And The MetroLink passes through providing train access to LA.

**Here's a Santa Ana lifer on the progress Santa Ana has made:**
*Over the past 15 years, things started to change. It has now gotten to a point were the city was selected by Forbes as the 4th safest in the country (large cities). Streets are getting improved, neighborhoods are being revitalized, downtown is taking shape, and most importantly residents are now completely involved with preventing crime. The city still has pockets of apartment complexes that have issues, but they are small and isolated areas. Santa Ana has beautiful neighborhoods. The best downtown in OC that is getting better fast!* 

For more reviews of what living in Santa Ana is like from locals check out: [**The Buzz**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/santa-ana?page=buzz)

Location

The Best Thing About Santa Ana?

Santa Ana's reputation was built in the 80's and 90's when things got rough. It's a very different city now but the reputation for crime has clung to the city. If that bothers you then you won't like it here. 

**Here's one local's point of view on the issue of Santa Ana's reputation:**
*I think there is certainly a negative stereotype of the city, that being said my dad grew up in Santa Ana before the white flight (he's black) but he said it definitely got worse in terms of crime in the 80s/90s but since the 2000s it has gotten much much better.*

The Reputation

The Worst Thing About Santa Ana?

Downtown Santa Ana has gone through a major revitalization in recent years. Much of this is driven by an arts movement that has given the city a cool vibe. Combine that arts scene with growing restaurant and bar options and the downtown area offers increasing social and cultural options. Future growth is planned but the city continues to wrestle with a desire for Downtown development and a fear of gentrification that displaces the majority hispanic community. In the meantime most of Santa Ana has a more family-focused “suburban” lifestyle with gated neighborhoods and amenities focused on keeping kiddos and parents happy. 


Lifestyle Of Santa Ana

The big drivers of the local economy in Santa Ana include government, financial, aerospace and electronics. The development project in downtown resulted in the creation of 10 new banking and financial building and the civic center for local, state and federal government buildings. Which means you can live and work in the city. That said, plenty of people live in Santa Ana and commute to Orange county cities like Irvine or Anaheim. While commuting is a thing we would strongly advise not moving to Santa Ana and then leaving yourself a long commute to LA or any other SoCal city. 

Worklife of Santa Ana

All the usual SoCal reasons. The climate is temperate (those famous Santa Ana Winds keep the nights balmy) and you can move strategically around Santa Ana and it’s neighboring communities and be quite comfortable. 


It's SoCal

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**The Good, the Bad and The Ugly**

Let’s get this out of the way; Santa Ana is largely frowned upon by the rest of Orange County, particularly, of course, coastal Orange County. The crime and homelessness really makes them clutch their pearls. But, if you’re coming from elsewhere you’re going to notice that it’s still SoCal climate and there are some nice neighborhoods. 

Although downtown Santa Ana was the subject of a revitalization effort and it’s got lots of accoutrements, Downtown is generally a place you go, not a place you live. The upper-middle and middle-class subdivisions are set apart from the rest of Santa Ana. Santa Ana is not necessarily an inexpensive place to settle by any means. Up in the hills, behind gates one can also live in the Santa Ana zip code. 

**The Best Thing About Santa Ana?** 

Santa Ana is centrally located and a quick drive to beaches and John Wayne Airport. 
Shopping is diverse including South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa)  It is centrally located to the rest of Orange County, ten minutes from the beach, 2 hours from the mountains, 1 hour to LA, and 2 hours to San Diego. Also, the candy/produce/snack vans/trucks. And The MetroLink passes through providing train access to LA.

**The Worst Thing About Santa Ana?** 

It’s not really much cheaper than Costa Mesa and Costa Mesa is nicer. The crime in Santa Ana is more likely to be violent.

**How You Living?** 

There are still some blue-collar working neighborhoods with post war charm (Riverview) and historic neighborhoods near downtown but many blanche at the proximity to dangerous neighborhoods. (Willard, Townsend, Mytle)

West Floral Park is more snooty, almost as much as Floral Park, but there are beautiful, older houses and pretty nice people but the schools are not as good as those middle-class neighborhoods that are covered by the Tustin Unified School District.  In West Floral Park there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. Many young professionals with their families, their above average schools and their liberal politics.  

Since Santa Ana is one of the oldest cities in Orange County, there are many Victorian homes, early California Spanish cottages, as well as some mid century modern architecture. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

All the usual SoCal reasons. The climate is temperate (those famous Santa Ana Winds keep the nights balmy) and you can move strategically around Santa Ana and it’s neighboring communities and be quite comfortable. 


The Downtown Santa Ana Historic District pulls in young people for culture and socializing and now it’s increasingly pulling them in for living. Growth in apartment, loft and condo options make it the first place to check out if considering moving here. It’s a center for restaurants, bars, coffee shops and a growing Artist’s Village scene that’s all easily walkable. It also has Birch Park for those craving a bit of greenery amidst the commercial district. 
- Downtown Historic District


Young Professionals

Downtown Historic District

The French Park and French Court neighborhoods are good options for singles and couples looking for commercial districts with plenty of restaurants, bars and shopping but are ready for moving on from a strictly “Downtown” experience. These are historic neighborhoods with beautiful housing options and good walkscores but not the density of downtown. 
- French Park
- French Court


DINKs/SINKs

French Park

Santa Ana doesn’t have a particularly dense LGBTQ+ neighborhood but the growth of Downtown and in particular The Artist’s Village is driving growth in the city. Anyone new to Santa Ana looking for a community would do well to start their search here. 
- Downtown
- The Artist’s Village


LGBTQ+ 

The Artist's Village

Meredith Parkwood is a good place to start the search for families. It has a commercial district, with shops, restaurants and grocery stores, but it also has schools, parks and open spaces for the kiddos to enjoy. While housing is more expensive here the neighborhood is also extremely safe for families so many make the tradeoff. Floral Park is another great option. The neighborhood has over 600 historic homes and it feels like a neighborhood from an earlier era. The blocks are tree-lined and the homes tree-shaded (critical during hot summers) and the community feels like its own small town rather than just a part of a bigger city. 
- Meredith Parkwood
- Floral Park
- West Floral Park


Families

Meredith Parkwood

Santa Ana

**What's it like living in Santa Ana California?**

I'll answer specifically regarding my own situation. I've lived in Santa Ana from 1977–1981, 1993–2000, and came back in 2014. I currently live in a gated community near South Coast Plaza. I'm just blocks from major freeways, when I worked, my job was 2 1/2 miles away in Irvine. Movie theatres, many restaurants, grocery stores are minutes away and within walking distance. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, world famous performing arts center, is a short three minute drive. The multi venue campus hosts Broadway plays, orchestra, opera, jazz & pop music concerts, classic ballet & modern dance shows and comedy acts. Santa Ana is centrally located and a quick drive to beaches and John Wayne Airport. The revitalized downtown area, about a fifteen minute drive from me, is geared towards diverse restaurants, art and culture. Since Santa Ana is one of the oldest cities in Orange County, there are many Victorian homes, early California Spanish cottages, as well as some mid century modern architecture. It's also a sprawling city and not all of it is as nice as my immediate area. Due to it's close proximity to everything mentioned, it's a convenient area to live.

**What are the best aspects of living in Santa Ana, CA as a young adult?**

Cheap living, especially considering the surrounding areas. Close access to many places, including some of the best beaches in the world. Santa Ana is great for unique shopping and style, record shops, entertainment. One of the best live music venues in the country, The Observatory, is in Santa Ana. There is a lot of culture and pride in community in DTSA, and it’s growing and evolving all the time. There are many different neighborhoods, great food and restaurants of all types and prices, and a great growing art scene. It’s only 30 minutes from real backwoods country, with camping, hiking, and raw nature. Plus it’s close to L.A. and Hollywood if you want big-city nightlife. Great place to be a young adult.

**What are the best aspects of living in Santa Ana, CA as a young adult?

Cheap living, especially considering the surrounding areas. Close access to many places, including some of the best beaches in the world. Santa Ana is great for unique shopping and style, record shops, entertainment. One of the best live music venues in the country, The Observatory, is in Santa Ana. There is a lot of culture and pride in community in DTSA, and it’s growing and evolving all the time. There are many different neighborhoods, great food and restaurants of all types and prices, and a great growing art scene. It’s only 30 minutes from real backwoods country, with camping, hiking, and raw nature. Plus it’s close to L.A. and Hollywood if you want big-city nightlife. Great place to be a young adult.

**Living in Santa Ana?**

Okay, let me give you the counter to what many in here (and in most of OC) are saying. I moved to orange county 2.5 years ago, from Brooklyn.

I've lived in Huntington Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and for the last year, Santa Ana. Santa Ana is by far my favorite part of the OC.

Everywhere else is "boring". Santa Ana has a thriving music and arts scene (which I am a part of). There are a ton of incredible young musicians coming out of the arts high school, there's an active street art scene, and there are plenty of galleries, concerts, etc. Lots of bars and restaurants downtown. There's a TON going on, and the city feels vibrant. Most of the rest of OC feels . . . crowded yet empty at the same time.

There are admittedly less desirable areas of Santa Ana, and yes - there are homeless people. To the guy that commented on bike theft . . . dude, I biked in NYC. If your shit gets stolen, it's because you didn't secure it well enough. Buy locking axels, get a Kryptonite NYC U-lock, and make sure your seat is chained/locked too. Yes, it's shitty that people steal bikes. But as long as you take precautions and make your bike harder to steal than the next guy's, you're fine (bike theft is common in NYC, Austin, and other areas - not just Santa Ana).

The people are way cooler and nicer and more community focused than elsewhere I've lived in the OC. Honestly, Santa Ana gave me hope for this area of California.

People who live in Costa Mesa think it's a terrible idea because they are afraid of people who are different than them. People who are hispanic. People who are homeless. People who are in a lower socio-economic class. many of the beach cities tend to skew upper-middle class, white, and conservative. you have lots of sheltered people who have lived like that their entire lives. And, to be fair to them, Santa Ana used to be a lot worse. That's what I've heard. But it's a city on the rise, and it's a city that actually has its own culture - which most of the other cities in the area can't say (consumerism doesn't count as culture, sorry, and "beach culture" is not unique to a place or its people, just the environment).

Again, I've lived and hung out in areas of Brooklyn that are far sketchier than anything you'll find in Santa Ana - and the worst that's happened to me was getting a bike seat and bike lights stolen. My only advice for housing would be to live above 1st Street.

Take the haters' opinions with a grain of salt. Come check the area out for yourself. Swing by The Coollab Project to meet a bunch of the artists and musicians that live in the area, and talk to people who actually live here. It's a welcoming bunch.

Santa Ana, California

Rickenbackers

Looklyloo Score: 83