Orange County (Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Anaheim: crime rate, new house, find a job)

[Chi-City Kanye]

What r the nicest neighborhoods in orange county? I heard its a lot better than Los Angeles County

[LASam]

It depends what your definition of "better" is. For finding a job in the legal field, LA will probably present more opportunities. LA also is a lot more urban, which I think may interest you since you are from Chicago. Orange County is more family centered and laid back.

[Chava61]

Mission Viejo is a nice town especially for a family. It has a nice lake.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by Chi-City Kanye

What r the nicest neighborhoods in orange county? I heard its a lot better than Los Angeles County

Is this a joke?

LA and OC are huge places. There are nice, middle of the road, and awful places in both. Most people consider OC an extension of LA anway.

Not trying to be difficult but you need to pick specific cities (and even then with larger cities that will be difficult) if you want comparisons. As another said you need to define nice to you. Do you like being by the ocean? Is hot weather good or bad to you? Do you like to walk to stuff? Do you care if your house and neighborhood are unique or are you most interested in size? Do you want a yard? Do you want a new house or a older home with tradition/character?

Comparing counties won't get you anywhere in Socal. It's all one big sprawl.

[Chi-City Kanye]

I was just wondering if its a better place to raise kids than in LA county

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Chi-City Kanye

I was just wondering if its a better place to raise kids than in LA county

Better stick to LA County if you want good schools because the schools in Bel Air, Calabasas, and Manhattan Beach are much better than the schools in Santa Ana. How's that for a scientific response?

Seriously, there are a lot of factors which make up "better".

Obviously schools, but that varies by neighborhood (like I illustrated above).

What about "ilities" like compatibility and affordability?

Would the kids feel comfortable if they were the only blue kids in a neighborhood full of green kids?
Are mom and dad working two jobs and too burned out to be good parents?
Is dad commuting 50 miles in traffic every day and coming home grouchy?
Are you compromising community safety and aesthetics for proximity to a job?

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by Chi-City Kanye

I was just wondering if its a better place to raise kids than in LA county

My point is the question is flawed. You have to compare cities and many times even neighborhoods within cities.

[Calix]

Chi-City, by and large, OC is a better place to raise a family. Orange County is far better run than LA County and does not have the same level of crippling poverty save a few places in the northern part of the county. The crime rate is exceptionally low for a major population center and many of the people there are family minded as opposed to the urban elitists that dominate LA who have profound disdain for children and families. The notable exceptions are the Westlake and Simi Valley areas and parts of the valley.

Any community south of the 55 freeway will be fine, actually avoid Santa Ana, Garden Grove, parts of Westminster Buena Park and Anaheim and you'll be fine.

Good luck to you, I hope you find a great community for you and your family

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by Calix

Chi-City, by and large, OC is a better place to raise a family. Orange County is far better run than LA County and does not have the same level of crippling poverty save a few places in the northern part of the county. The crime rate is exceptionally low for a major population center and many of the people there are family minded as opposed to the urban elitists that dominate LA who have profound disdain for children and families. The notable exceptions are the Westlake and Simi Valley areas and parts of the valley.

Any community south of the 55 freeway will be fine, actually avoid Santa Ana, Garden Grove, parts of Westminster Buena Park and Anaheim and you'll be fine.

Good luck to you, I hope you find a great community for you and your family

There are many areas in LA County that are as good if not better than any areas in oc for raising a family. Plus many of the middle class areas people love to talk about in oc as great family areas are so burdened with materialism in my mind the argument falls flat. Find a job and live close to it.