University CDP (Orange County) quality of life -am I missing something?
Longtime lurker here, The unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is pretty low. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The food scene here is surprisingly good. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The city has invested a lot in new development.
10 upvotes
7 Replies
Austin
following this thread
40 upvotes
urban_olivia23
honestly same experience here
34 upvotes
Lillian Torres
underrated comment
31 upvotes
Maverick Morris
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 28, moved here 9 years ago from Houston. I've lived in Downtown and Uptown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The housing market situation is developing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Downtown: Great for singles. underrated vibes, walkable.
- Uptown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Houston, everything felt solid. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are competitive. Gas is competitive. You can live comfortably on $40K-$150K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
30 upvotes
Emily Kim
seconding this
25 upvotes
Jacob T.
noted, appreciate it
14 upvotes
lake_connor1
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 10 years and there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's reasonable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the food scene is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is solid.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The West side vs the East side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
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