Compare Irvine, CA to Seattle, WA (San Diego, Santa Ana: home, neighborhood, school)

[silverstar23]

I have an opportunity to move to either Irvine, CA or Seattle, WA. Has anybody lived in these two areas and if so, could you please tell me what one area you like better? Thank you.

[Hemlock140]

I lived in northern CA but have spent time in Irvine. I'd definitely consider that to be a choice based on your preference for sun or rain. The difference is night and day, and for me, the rain wins. Also, whether you prefer forests, mountains, rivers and lakes, as I do, or being close to a big urban metropolis with unlimited entertainment options. Both have a high cost of living but Seattle is still not as bad as Irvine, so if income is the same you get more for your money here but not a huge difference except in home prices.

[SoCalBadBoy22]

if you're an asian family, you'll love Irvine.

that being said, I don't know any other demographic that would enjoy paying the ridiculous costs of living to reside there. It IS a prime location, being an hour from SD and Big Bear, 30 minutes from LA, and 5-10 minutes from the beach. but then again, you pay out the ass and have to deal with ridiculous language barriers on the daily (people absolutely refuse to learn English, made obvious by the number of traffic accidents from failure to YIELD).

the only good thing about Irvine is it's location. To those of you who want to pull up stats on how safe it is... I can only remind you that they are statistics. and Irvine has a way of keeping things hush.

[Harrier]

I have lived in both the Seattle area and Orange County. Never lived specifically in Irvine, but can say from experience driving around that city - you would only like it if you are a robot. The city was a master planned community - and I would argue that it has no "soul" - if you get my drift. Cookie cutter housing - boring, repetitive instances of housing tracks followed by strip malls, then business parks, just an entirely uninspired semi-urban wasteland. Benefits are being close to wilderness and urban life. In the winter you can ski and surf on the same day.

Orange County has much more variety then can be found if you limit yourself to Irvine. If you truly are limiting your options to the cities of irvine and Seattle - I would choose Seattle. Seattle has more urban characteristics, cultural vibrancy, architectural variety, that "soul" I said Irvine(and much of South Orange County) lacks, and a more intense experience with nature - though you can experience nature living in south Orange County if you trek a bit.

Orange County taken as a whole has all the urban characteristics I praise about Seattle - and one can even find that elusive "soul" I mentioned. Why not look at places like Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, or Fullerton? Even if you work in Irvine, you will be nearby - and may find the overall flavor of your home preferable to Irvine.

Prepares self for inevitable protestations from Irvine residents unhappy because I just trashed their home - lol.

[SoCalBadBoy22]

Originally Posted by Harrier

I have lived in both the Seattle area and Orange County. Never lived specifically in Irvine, but can say from experience driving around that city - you would only like it if you are a robot. The city was a master planned community - and I would argue that it has no "soul" - if you get my drift. Cookie cutter housing - boring, repetitive instances of housing tracks followed by strip malls, then business parks, just an entirely uninspired semi-urban wasteland. Benefits are being close to wilderness and urban life. In the winter you can ski and surf on the same day.

Orange County has much more variety then can be found if you limit yourself to Irvine. If you truly are limiting your options to the cities of irvine and Seattle - I would choose Seattle. Seattle has more urban characteristics, cultural vibrancy, architectural variety, that "soul" I said Irvine(and much of South Orange County) lacks, and a more intense experience with nature - though you can experience nature living in south Orange County if you trek a bit.

Orange County taken as a whole has all the urban characteristics I praise about Seattle - and one can even find that elusive "soul" I mentioned. Why not look at places like Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, or Fullerton? Even if you work in Irvine, you will be nearby - and may find the overall flavor of your home preferable to Irvine.

Prepares self for inevitable protestations from Irvine residents unhappy because I just trashed their home - lol.

born and raised brother. you are on point.

NO SOUL! When people find out I'm from Socal, they ask why I moved to Arizona. When I explain that I'm from Irvine, they then immediately understand why. talk about a dull community, there isn't even a single bar! Very difficult to be human in a place so planned and as you put, a "cookie cutter community." love that- Irvine is compromised of around 12 boroughs (and growing) that are completely identical to each other. School, park, neighborhood, shopping center.

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by silverstar23

I have an opportunity to move to either Irvine, CA or Seattle, WA. Has anybody lived in these two areas and if so, could you please tell me what one area you like better? Thank you.

I assume you have job offers in these two locations. I have family in SEA, but have only visited in short bursts, and live in Irvine. If you have a job offer for Irvine, you have alot of choices on where to live in Orange County. Irvine is very central so you could live in Irvine, or by the beach in (depending on your income) Newport, Laguna or Huntington Beach; or in the vast upper middle class bedroom community known as "South County"; or in North county - Fullerton, Brea, Anaheim et al. It is not un heard of for Irvine workers to live in North San Diego county and many live Inland in Riverside county - Corona, Ontario, etc. So bottom line - don't get to worried about living in Irvine if you work in Irvine.

So your choice is really between the 2 regions not just the 2 cities. Having said all that the #1 differentiator is weather - In SEA it rains CONSTANTLY. In So Cal the sun shines CONSTANTLY. Your pick! If you are an outdoors/ beach person, hands down prepare to come to So Cal - the caveat being "if you can afford it".