Where are the best places to live in Orange County? (Long Beach: best town, lease)

[walkbyfaith]

Please help!!! I am looking for middle to upper-middle class neighborhood. I also want to be within 20-30 minutes to the beach and have easy access to major freeways. Also is it possible to also be in close proximity to the mountains? I am looking to lease a 3-4 bedroom home for $2,500-$4,000 a month. What are some cities that match this criteria? I was looking at the Anaheim area?

[Charles]

Where is your job?
Kids? Ages?

[walkbyfaith]

It actually have a home based business that requires me to travel around orange county and the LA area. I am single without any kids.

[JMadison]

Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margaurita, San Clemente, Irvine

[bhcompy]

If by mountains you mean skiing, I'd just pick anywhere in Orange or southeast LA County. You'll be close to the beach and the extra 15-30 minutes on top of the 1-2hr drive to the mtns won't mean too much.

Anaheim has good and bad neighborhoods, so it's hard to judge. Are you looking for a suburban neighorhood, urban, something else? What amenities do you need nearby other than the ones you mentioned?

And I probably wouldn't go as far south as JMadison is suggesting if you travel across LA County as well, eventhough those are middle/upper class areas. Some of those areas can have freeway access issues as well, being more accessible by toll road than regular freeway(which can be costly)

[walkbyfaith]

Thank you! I am looking for a suburban neighborhood. As far as the amenities go the ones I have listed are the most important. Everything else I am flexible with. I will be in Orange County this weekend what are the top 3 areas you would recommend I check out?

[bhcompy]

Cypress(Monticito neighborhood is one of the nicer, newer neighborhoods), Rossmoor, Seal Beach(College Park East, College Park West are closest to freeways and upper-middle class), and East Long Beach(El Dorado Park Estates, Los Altos closest to freeways) would put you close to the 605/405 interchange, which is a good start. 20min max to the beach, depending on traffic. OC/LA border

Cerritos would put you at the 605/91 and very near the 105. 15-30 min from the beach depending on traffic. OC/LA Border

Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and Brea put you along the 91 corridor near the 57 or 55 freeways. Up to an hour from the beach, 30min without traffic. Good access to the heart of OC, but kind of a pain to get to some of the coastal areas since there is a wide portion between the 605 and 55 freeways that have no north-south freeway route.

The areas mentioned by JMadison would also be acceptable if you did most of your work in OC I would guess, though Dana Point and San Clemente are pretty far out there. Mission Viejo and Irvine and parts of Aliso Viejo would be near the 405/5 interchange(El Toro Y) that would give good access into the LA freeway system, just longer commutes. Tustin is closeby there and would probably work, too. More traditional suburban, near the 5/55 interchange.

[80's old school]

San Clemente, San Clemente, San Clemente, SC,SC, San Clemente, did I say San Clemente?? I found it to be the best town I have EVER lived in and can't wait to get back!

[5FLgirls]

Irvine, Laguna Niguel(great access to the 5), and Aliso Viejo(decent access to toll road) are nice in the south county area. San Clemente is great but the furthest south you can go...you might want to get more central county.

[Poptarts]

It is hard to have close have close proximity to the beach and mountains, you may have to chose one or the other. My recommendation is to be closer to the beach, it is cooler near the ocean, not has hot as Fullerton, Orange, other inland counties.

San Clemente is wonderful but far from LA. San Clemente has a small town beachy feel to it.

Check out Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, or Irvine (if you want ultra suburbanism). These cities are close to the beach (10 minutes) and the 405 freeway. The 405 takes you into LA.