Santa Ana? How bad is it? (Irvine, Orange: high crime, homes, neighborhoods)

[capoeira]

I suggest the Peartree apartments at 3401 S. Plaza Dr.,Santa Ana,CA 92704. These are very close to South Coast Plaza. These are off MacArthur Blvd. It will be a shorter commute to both UCI and Costa Mesa.

[tinexile]

I've been in SoCal for less than a year (moved here from Michigan), and a co-worker suggested I move to Santa Ana. I guess she was playing a joke on me. I've never disliked where I live so much in my life! I live in a complex called Adagio - if you're thinking of moving here my advice is to join a street gang or pitch a tent in the mountains instead. I can't wait to get out. I don't see what's so great about Orange County. My co-workers, 90% of whom have lived in OC their whole lives, think it's paradise. I am not impressed, other than by the Beach cities and a few places near the mountains.

Anyway (sorry about ranting!), to answer the topic of the thread, is Santa Ana really that bad: no...it's worse. Should you consider moving here: no. Unless the slums appeal to you.

[blessings11]

Anyway (sorry about ranting!), to answer the topic of the thread, is Santa Ana really that bad: no...it's worse. Should you consider moving here: no. Unless the slums appeal to you.


Having lived in Santa Ana for most of my life I can attest that it isn't a slum. There are areas that I would avoid living in just as there are areas in Tustin, Orange, Anaheim, and every other city in Orange County. Well, perhaps the southern end of the county doesn't have its areas but it's boring, predictable and the HOA's look for ways to regulate any sign of originality out of anyone. As for the 92701 zip there is a nice pocket even there. In 48 years of Santa Ana living (3 different houses) I have always felt safe. I'm more nervous about moving out of state than staying here in California but we need to move to a less expensive locale.

[solo_rider]

Originally Posted by gridiron_guru

Darn, that sucks. That place was really affordable compared to some other places and had pretty good amenities.

So, basically, even if we're commuters and we seek entertainment outside of the immediate area, it's still not very safe? That's sad. I guess there's no part of Santa Ana that one could live safely, without having to worry?

Dude, have you been to santa ana? My girlfriend and I drive through it (only when we have to) with our eyes closed.

You walk out of circuit city and you have people in white vans trying to sell you stereos, and there is a taco stand on every corner. NOBODY wants to live in santa ana.

I used to be a UCI student and your best bet is their on campus housing. When I went appartement hunting as a sophomore I found that most people in off campus appartments were 5 to a 2 bedroom. In case you're wondering, the 5th person slept in the living room.

[gridiron_guru]

Originally Posted by solo_rider

Dude, have you been to santa ana? My girlfriend and I drive through it (only when we have to) with our eyes closed.

You walk out of circuit city and you have people in white vans trying to sell you stereos, and there is a taco stand on every corner. NOBODY wants to live in santa ana.

I used to be a UCI student and your best bet is their on campus housing. When I went appartement hunting as a sophomore I found that most people in off campus appartments were 5 to a 2 bedroom. In case you're wondering, the 5th person slept in the living room.

Thanks for the response... I was considering living on campus because of the price and convenience, but decided I wanted a garage and a washer and dryer in my apartment. I got a good fellowship from UCI to get my Ph.D. and my wife is a good professional with a well-paying job.

I have found a place that is pretty good in Lake Forest near Trabuco Rd., which seems to be about a 15 minute commute to UCI (20 for my wife who will commute to South Coast Metro). What do you think about that? Would Lake Forest be an okay place to live while I'm in grad school? The place I found is affordable, safe (garage, alarm system, gated, etc.. so I assume "safe"), and has the amenities I want.

I'd love to hear some opinions on what the commute might be like for me and my wife.

PS. I have been to Santa Ana but it was nicer areas off MacArthur and also near the airport. Everything else I've seen has been from the highway (everything in southern california looks ghetto from the highway IMO).

Thanks!

[missionhome]

I think the commute will be manageable. For example, right now at 5:15PM coming south on the 405, the average speed is 55mph, with the slowest area being around the 55 freeway for about a mile where it is slowing to 20 mph. In general, the freeways keep moving, just at a slower pace from 30-50mph during rush hour. With accidents, commutes can get long when they shut down whole lanes, ect... but that isn't something that can be controlled by home location really.

Lake Forest is a nice city. Similar to Mission Viejo, just a little bit less upscale for now. They are trying to do a lot of renovations and the El Toro corridor looks better every year. It is very safe also. Mission Viejo, Irvine, and Lake Forest are the county's safest cities. If you love the condo there, go for it. I think your commute will usually be 25 minutes in rush hour and 15 on clear days and your wife's 30-35 minutes in bad/ 20-25 on bad days. Not bad for commuting by the standards here. Some people still drive all the way to Long Beach or Los Angeles for work! They have 2 hour commutes each way!

[trmc2007]

There really is NO real good reason to go through or to Santa Ana.

[Lardog]

I've not lived in Santa Ana so I can't say this with 100% certainty, but I believe there are som nice neighborhoods in Santa Ana such as Floral Park, Park Santiago and French Park all of which have turn of the century homes that are very well maintained and pricey. I know people who live in some of these places and they love it. And there's a rather large and growing artist/loft community near the center of town with lots of galleries and restaurants that has a really cool vibe to it on the weekends. If you ever get the chance, check it out the first Saturday of the month when all the galleries are open to the public....it is very fun, cool, urban and very much unlike most of Orange County...

[EscapeCalifornia]

The kiss of death in Santa Ana has always been the schools. They're horrible! So even if you find a nice pocket where at least half of your neighbors are legally permitted to live in this country, it's still in Santa Ana's school district. I believe there's one small area on the far north that goes to Orange schools and the listings will point out that fact because its a big selling feature. Even if you don't have kids and don't care about schools, its really going to limit who will buy from you down the road.

[HockeyFan]

My two cents... never lived there, but I've driven through most areas of Santa Ana. Personally, I've never even felt the least bit threatened. Some of the older areas have some nice, tree-lined streets, the newer areas are typical suburban OC style (albeit 50s and 60s, not today's style).

The crime rate is low, registering below the national average for each year this decade (scroll part way down the following link). The crime rate is indeed higher than the rest of Orange County, but is far lower than inner cities in Midwestern communities.

With OCers stating they are a distinct metro area, Santa Ana would be considered the heart of OC from an urban point of view, which is the heart of any metro area. If you compare the numbers to St. Louis, Detroit, Kansas City, or most major cities, you'll be surprised how safe it is.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Santa-Ana-California.html

Yes, many people speak Spanish as a first language. More than 50% of the city was born outside of the US, with the vast majority coming from Mexico or other Central American countries. Knowing Spanish might be useful, but I've never struggled in getting by with only English.

Unless I'm missing something -- I've been through most of the city but certainly not every road -- I can't imagine being intimidated by driving through Santa Ana. It's not South Central LA (which while not being ideal, is not as bad as Hollywood portrays), it's not East St. Louis, it's not Gary, Indiana. It's a relatively active and vibrant community with a strong Mexican flavor.