Best place to live near Chapman University? (Santa Ana, Anaheim: hardwood floors, apartments)

[EquityTrader]

Looking for any opinions, on nice, safe, convenient location in Orange County within reasonable driving distance to Chapman University..

Chapman University • One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866

Went driving around areas not around the campus and none of them appeared safe to live in......

any advice is appreciated..

big thanks!

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Chapman is located in a 'borderline-area' -not terrible, but not exactely what I would call "nice." I assume you are seeking a 1br rental. Most of the homes around campus are small historic bungalows from the bygone 1950's era. I would stay as closest to campus as possible, and maybe even search the school newspaper for openings. If you can afford more and willing to travel an extra few minutes look in Villa Park(the area west of the 55), or Yorba Linda (north of 91). The further north of 91-generally the nicer... Villa Park-the further east you go the better.. Avoid Anaheim and Santa Ana at most costs, as there is a lot of gang activity in areas. Orange has it's fair share of crime, but not nearly as bad.

If all else fails, try Irvine. You can't go wrong there.

[EquityTrader]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

Chapman is located in a 'borderline-area' -not terrible, but not exactely what I would call "nice." I assume you are seeking a 1br rental. Most of the homes around campus are small historic bungalows from the bygone 1950's era. I would stay as closest to campus as possible, and maybe even search the school newspaper for openings. If you can afford more and willing to travel an extra few minutes look in Villa Park(the area west of the 55), or Yorba Linda (north of 91). The further north of 91-generally the nicer... Villa Park-the further east you go the better.. Avoid Anaheim and Santa Ana at most costs, as there is a lot of gang activity in areas. Orange has it's fair share of crime, but not nearly as bad.

If all else fails, try Irvine. You can't go wrong there.

Big Thanks!!

You have been extremely helpful

[Shelbysmom]

I disagree with other post.

The area around Chapman is wonderful and would make a great place to live and walk to work. Look for a duplex or small house behind a house. Not cheap but Old Towne Orange is worth the price. Many new restaurants and galleries going in. If I had money to invest it would be downtown Orange. Go to Gabby's for dinner. yummy.

The place is safe, just not cookie cutter clean like Irvine.

If you like more of the cookie cutter look, head out Chapman to East Orange. One Bedrooms near the hiking trails cost about $1200. a month.

[djrun]

Agree with the previous poster, Orange is not that bad at all, of course it depends on what you consider acceptable, which is all relative. It also depends on what you're exactly looking for in a city.

As far as safety is concerned, it is an issue is hard to escape. Irvine, though the "safest city in the state" (although i dont know if that title is still current) is notorious for home burglaries. i've lived in a "not-so-nice" part of riverside for two years and did not witness any trouble.

But if you're a college student, i would also recommend staying close to the campus as the area is generally safe, frequent use of facilities on campus, the old towne orange attractions, and a short drive to downtown disney or the block at orange. If you're not concerned with staying busy outside of school or prefer staying indoors, then i would also advise to looking into homes east of the 55 on Chapman Ave (although more pricey)...

but generally speaking i think you'll be good regardless of your location, the entire area is great.

[Mrs.Rankin]

I definitely think stay in orange. I went to Chapman and Old Town is sooo cute. I grew up in Laguna which is nice as well, but commuting from anywhere in the morning is just a pain when you can live in a nice area close to work. Check out the homes close to campus. Also, around the block are some nice/new apartments. That would also be nice to have stuff to do at night or on the weekends. Orange is cute and quaint, but there are 2 dive bars there. If you are a college student they can be fun on Thursdays, other than that they can get trashy on other nights. The block is usually fun, with lots of bars, but no dance type clubs. Anywhere in OC is pretty nice, but save yourself the irritation of commuting. HOPE THIS HELPS A BIT??

[LivingLikeAGradStudent]

Echo the stay-close chorus. Downtown Orange is charming and much less suburban than much of the county, and there's plenty of time for suburban after you graduate.

[haleyv22]

The answer depends on your finances, how much time you have before you need to move, and your priorities, like if you are willing to go small on space to move up a little on luxury. Many of us dream to rent or own a patio home with all of the modern luxuries inside, nice architecture, hardwood floors, nice neighbors, but also wired for internet/cable in all rooms with proper plumbing, parking, mature landscaping, but my reality was that it wasn't happening in my price range. There is a brand new upscale apartment building at Chapman and the 5 freeway. The complex is nice, if you have a car. A couple of complexes near the Block and the Crystal Cathedral are OK, Chapman near Lewis or Manchester, for example, where many UCI residents live, with more space than much of OC, as they are older, and many units have been recently remodeled.
I pay a little more, commute a little more, and live smaller, in Irvine, which is safe, quiet, and honestly, a little boring at times even with its many cultures. There are many nice places in smaller buildings or homes in and around Chapman, but I was pressed for time, a little low on money for the market for what I hoped for, and became frustrated when I saw roaches on one tour, places with no air conditioning, or loud neighbors. You might try a company like Westside Rentals, OC, (online) because they have many listings, both for apartments and homes, listings by cith and price. I was motivated to respond to encourage you to keep looking in Orange, as there are great places in that great community, but it is not like some communities where you just name a specific street or area. One home is updated, and another one needs a great deal of work. One apartment is safe, but the building next door is overcrowded.
Pick up the free apartments for rent magazines, too, in local supermarkets, for ideas, and know that all prices are more than listed in there. Good luck.

[losercore]

I just thought i would add the Chapman is located in one of the greatest places of "inner OC" That part of Orange is great. Cool bars, minutes from the hills for bike trails, everything you need and as safe as any part of Orange.

I would want to live right around the School if I was going to Chapman. It's well worth it. I lived a block from Chapman for 2 years and it was way more fun the living in Huntington and you're still only 20 minutes to the beach.

[Momzilla]

I lived in the area and still have friends that live there. It may not look it, but we never had a problem! I loved living down there! There is a coffee shop called the Ugly Mug you should try I believe off of Glassell.

Unfortunately I don't have any actual complexes to direct you to because we lived in houses... But honestly the area is as they say a border area and really it is safer than it looks. It's just an older part of town.