Orange County is one of the most desirable places to live in Southern California. If you’re looking for the absolutely safest cities in Orange County, read on.
What is the safest city to live in Orange County CA?
According to the SafeWise ranking of California’s 50 Safest Cities in 2021, the safest city in Orange County is Rancho Santa Margarita. With a violent crime rate of only 0.6, the city is an extremely family-friendly suburb known for its master-planned neighborhoods, beach club, and picturesque parks.
Where is a good place to live in Orange County?
We admit it, we’re biased, but anywhere within Orange County is a great place to live! With nearly perfect sunny weather 365 days of the year, stunning beaches, and tons of fun around every corner, Orange County is a great place to call home.
Let’s review the top 10 safest places to live in Orange County based on crime statistics to help start your search for the best place to call home in this picturesque community. For more ideas on where to settle, check out our list of Top Suburbs in Orange County.
Rancho Santa Margarita
Not only is Rancho Santa Margarita one of the safest cities in Orange County, it’s also one of the most affordable places to live as well. Offering residents a wide variety of condos and townhomes for sale, RSM – as the locals call it – is popular among first-time homebuyers and young families. Tucked along the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, the city is naturally beautiful as well.
Featuring highly rated schools, the area is also popular because of its plethora of outdoor activities nearby, including tons of local parks and hiking areas to explore like Whitting Ranch Wilderness Park, Santiago Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, and Limestone Canyon Preserve.
While there’s plenty of entertainment for families including the Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club and nearby hikes and camping in O’Neill Regional Park, there’s not much nightlife in Rancho Santa Margarita. However, you’re just a short car ride away from Orange County’s lively beach cities. In fact, you can grab a beer in RSM at the Laguna Beach Beer Company or enjoy a cocktail on the lake at Carmelita’s.
Irvine
Irvine has often been ranked as the #1 safest city in America, which is particularly impressive because of its large size. And the low crime rates are making Irvine a popular place to settle down, with a large influx of residents moving to the city over the past decade. From 2009 to 2018, Irvine’s population grew 33.6%, which is more than five times the national growth rate. It’s no surprise that Irvine is also on our list of safest cities within Southern California.
Known for its award-winning schools to stunning master-planned neighborhoods, Irvine is an amazing place to live. There are over 30 different and unique communities to choose from which offer different amenities and architectural styles, all offering convenient shopping and services.
Warning, with all of these perks, comes a high real estate price tag. Homes for sale in Irvine range from approximately $500,000 to over $2 million and in some of the newer neighborhoods, you will have to pay Mello-Roos taxes on top of your monthly mortgage payment. These are the most popular neighborhoods for homebuyers within the $700k – $800k range, and there are top 10 best neighborhoods within the entire city.
Lake Forest
Like the name suggests, Lake Forest is a beautifully lush community with hills, trees, and a man-made lake as well. Located next to Irvine, Lake Forest is just as safe with more affordable homes for sale. Popular among young professionals and families as well, the city offers single-family homes with spacious lots, tons of newly constructed homes, condos, and townhomes.
Offering a wide variety of shopping and dining along El Toro Road that has been built up over the years, and the newly constructed Foothill Ranch Towne Center. Offering residents tons of green parks, ample shopping, and a beautiful lake, Lake Forest is a wonderful place to set down roots.
Aliso Viejo
According to niche.com Aliso Viejo is one of the safest places to live in Orange County and also ranks as one of the best places to live in the LA/OC area. Located just four miles from Laguna Beach, this south county community is located just off the 241 toll road. Established in 2001, Aliso Viejo real estate is full of newly constructed single-family homes, charming townhomes, and condos. The median household income is $112,689 with a median home value of $675,572.
Primarily residential, Aliso Viejo is also home to Soka University, a private liberal arts college founded in 1987. The sprawling campus, which was a vaccination super site, includes the Soka Performing Arts Center, a world-class concert hall seating 1,000 people. Home of the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra, the venue hosts several performances every year including jazz and classical music artists, symphonies, festivals, and family events.
Yorba Linda
A luxurious community in inland Orange County, Yorba Linda real estate is known for its spacious lots, city light views, and equestrian properties. With room to spread out and enjoy your hobbies, other popular North Orange County neighborhoods nearby include Villa Park and Orange Park Acres, also offering lower population density. Featuring a variety of equestrian trails, the city offers residents plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
Famously the birthplace of President Richard Nixon, the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is located on the north side of the city. Yorba Linda also made our list for one of the best cities to live in Southern California.
Laguna Niguel
Located next to Dana Point, this posh coastal town offers big homes and lots with all the perks of a beach city. That’s why it made our list of one of the best luxurious places to live in Southern California. Surrounded by Laguna Hills, San Juan Capistrano, and Aliso Viejo, the city has large sections of designated open space and tons of luxurious homes for sale.
Offering tons of shopping, quality schools, and a very clean community, the city has a median household income of $108,537 and a median property value of $827,100. Laguna Niguel is a great place to shop for an ocean view home in Orange County as well because the city is located just inland from the priciest beach towns, but still offers perfectly placed lots to drink in the white water views.
Mission Viejo
As one of the largest master-planned communities in America, Mission Viejo is objectively a beautiful place to live. The 11,000-acre community features neighborhoods and roads carefully placed throughout the city’s foothills with roughly two parks for every square mile.
Homes for sale in Mission Viejo include affordable townhouses and condos, as well as multi-million-dollar properties. Lake Mission Viejo is another beautiful feature of the city, and includes a full-service marina with boat rentals and docking, picnic areas, and a shoreline fishing area. Activities on the lake include boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, lakeside movie nights, and summer concerts. The most expensive – and desirable – Mission Viejo real estate surrounds the lake just south of Santiago Peak in the Santa Ana Mountains.
San Juan Capistrano
Based on single-family home prices, San Jan Capistrano actually ranks as one of the most affordable places to buy a home in Orange County. Home to Mission San Juan Capistrano, the city has a rich history and vibrant downtown district. The mission is known as the “Jewel of the California Missions” and welcomes over 300,000 visitors every year. Recently undergoing a remodel and restoration, the downtown district centers around the train station and includes the Los Rios District, directly across the tracks from the Capistrano Depot.
The oldest neighborhood in California, Los Rios features forty homes including three original adobe structures. Popular places to visit in San Jan Capistrano include Trevor’s at the Tracks with live music, Ramos House best known for their brunch and bloody mary’s, and the local dive bar Swallows Inn.
Dana Point
Home to the world-famous Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point is a posh beach city with multiple five-star hotels and resorts. Known for its iconic coastal bluffs and the tide pools that run along the sand, Dana Point is a picturesque place to live and visit. Doheny Beach is known by locals as one of the best beaches for surfing, especially if you’re just learning, and Salt Creek and The Strand are some of the most popular beaches in Orange County. The city’s downtown Lantern District has recently gone through a revitalization, with tons of shops, eateries, and businesses in the city.
Not only do you have the beautiful beach to visit all year long, Dana Point also hosts several special events and festivals throughout the year including the Ohana music festival in September, the California Wine Festival during the summer, and the Festival of the Whales in March.
San Clemente
The southern-most Orange County city before you head into San Diego, San Clemente is laid back beach town with a small-town vibe. Southwest San Clemente in particular is one of the best neighborhoods in Southern California. Unlike Newport Beach which is home to some of the richest neighborhoods in SoCal, San Clemente offers a much more casual atmosphere with tons of locally owned small businesses and a few quirky traditions. One of which is the unofficial annual office chair races down Avenida Rosa on the fourth of July.
Known as the Spanish Village by the Sea, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens embodies the area’s iconic Spanish-style architecture. Offering sandy beaches, perfect weather, coastal views, an exciting downtown, and rich history, San Clemente is a great place to live. San Onofre and San Clemente state beaches are popular places for surfers to catch waves and open for camping as well.
What city in California has the lowest crime rate?
Throughout the whole state, the safest city in California goes to Danville. Located in the San Ramon Valley near San Francisco, this small town offers all the benefits of the big city with a laidback suburban vibe. With an unemployment rate of only 4.9% (U.S. avg. is 6.0%), job growth within Danville is very positive. However, with all of the perks comes a high cost of living. With a median income of $140,616 and a median home price of $2,141,200, Danville’s cost of living is 149.3% higher than the national average.
To check out more of the safest cities within the golden state, check out our list of the 7 Safest Cities In Southern California.
