What he HELL does everyone do in OC to make money? (Los Angeles: fit in, how much)

[mrwumpus]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

On top of that I work at a hospital, my wife works at the hospital, and we run a business that makes us even more money. Saying that doesn't make us privelidged in any way. I went to school. My wife went to school. Anyone could have started our business. Anyone can do what we are doing now, work in a similar job. It is all about choices.

Do you really believe that in this economy? It takes money to start a business. Who is going to loan it in this economy? I can't even get a loan for a used car, thanks to the dumb greedy choices of Wall St. and the others who caused the housing crisis / credit crunch.

Why not share your business plan and show how someone working full-time supporting a family on a meager income, and with zero capital, can simply make a choice to succeed at it? I choose to do it. Now show me how.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by ryanruns

I was considering moving to Orange County from North Florida,I have friends and family there, but the more i research the more of a **** hole it sounds like, mainly becuase of the " rich snobbery" I keep hearing about

You are aware that the "rich snobbery" is confined to the relatively small rich snobby parts of the county, aren't you?

Of course you're not, because you've never lived there.

[ryanruns]

Originally Posted by Charles

I read your posts on the Huntsville forum. There are pluses and minuses. Huntsville will give you the jobs and the low cost of living and low stress...and it is great for families But, it won't give you the fun that OC would give a single guy. Seal Beach has Navy govy jobs. Camp Pendleton, Point Mugu in Ventura County too.

I thought about ventura county I know they have a seabee base there..I know some people that moved from there to here. Ill have to look
into it..My ex gf just moved to Fullerton, ca which is south of Ventura if im not mistaken but it has been a big change for her in her standard of living because of the cost of living and she is well educated so im leaning more towards somewhere on this end but ill definetely check it out, thanks.

[SV808]

Originally Posted by SoCalCroozer

I'm from the midwest (St. Louis) and lived 7 years in Colorado. I've seen my fair share of wealth and rich people. But having lived two years here in the "OC" and hanging out in Newport, Laguna, Coto, etc. and driving around Nellie Gail and so many other wealthy subdivisions it's sickening how wealthy people are here compared to the rest of the country. I mean what the hell does everyone do around here to justify this wealth and standard of living? Is everyone a doctor, lawyer, business owner, super professional? Some of you wonder why OC and CA in general has such a bad rap well think about it.............the average Californian or more specifically the average Orange Countian is so far out of touch with mainstream America it's laughable. I mean some of the people out here live like gluttons. The gap between the haves and the have nots is most apparent in a county like Orange that's for sure. I've never seen so many BMW's, Mercedes, Maseratis, Ferraris, Bentleys etc. The funny thing is this state is bankrupt. LMAO! It's quite ironic. There are many things I love about Southern California and south Orange County is a very nice place to live. But there are WAY too many out of touch wealthy snobs out here.

There's nothing like watching an OCian out washing their beautiful car or better yet having it detailed by some Mexican teenager all the while wondering to myself when the hell it's going to rain again. After all OC uses more water than any other county in Southern California! Yall are some funny people out here!

It's all fake wealth, which is why OC leads when it comes to foreclosures.

These are the wealthiest counties in the United States:

Wealthiest by top 5% Household Income:

1. New York, NY: $857,643
2. Fairfield, CT: $822,708
3. Westchester, NY: $793,134
4. Somerset, NJ: $625,869
5. Marin, CA: $624,762
6. Montgomery, MD: $567,190
7. Hunterdon, NJ: $554,015
8. Morris, NJ: $546,982
9. Nassau, NY: $538,307
10. San Francisco, CA: $523,744

Census Bureau Home Page

Metro % of Adults who are High Net Worth Individuals ($1M+ in investable assets)

New York City 3.6%
San Francisco 3.4%
Boston 2.9%
Washington 2.9%
Chicago 2.2%
Detroit 2.2%
Los Angeles/OC 2.0%
Philadelphia 1.8%
Houston 1.5%

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Orange County is nowhere near one of the wealthiest counties in the US, but it is significantly flashier than most of these places.

It doesn't take much to lease a BMW or Mercedes anyway. The flashy types are usually wannabees who are one paycheck away to bankruptcy. The flashiness of S. OC would be seen as crass up here in the Bay Area.

[bhcompy]

Except your list is highly selective/nitpicky with criteria.

The traditional measurement of wealth for an entire county is median household income, or perhaps per capita income. Orange County is in the top 5% of counties by those measurements and is one of the most diverse near the top of the list. Over 10% of Orange County lives below the poverty line, which is something you won't see in Fairfax County, VA, which is the #1(or #2, depending on the measurement) highest income county by median household income.

Also, I'm not sure what foreclosure data you're pulling, because OC doesn't lead anything in foreclosures. The Inland Empire, the High Desert, and the city of Stockton are the dubious foreclosure leaders in CA.

[SV808]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

Except your list is highly selective/nitpicky with criteria.

The traditional measurement of wealth for an entire county is median household income, or perhaps per capita income. Orange County is in the top 5% of counties by those measurements and is one of the most diverse near the top of the list. Over 10% of Orange County lives below the poverty line, which is something you won't see in Fairfax County, VA, which is the #1(or #2, depending on the measurement) highest income county by median household income.

Also, I'm not sure what foreclosure data you're pulling, because OC doesn't lead anything in foreclosures. The Inland Empire, the High Desert, and the city of Stockton are the dubious foreclosure leaders in CA.

Wealth is measured by net worth, not income. Many wealthy people have no income whatsoever. The IRS figures reveal that OC/LA is even below Detroit when it comes to % of high net worth individuals. You wouldn't know that by observing the behavior in OC.

In any case, if we want to measure it by per capita income (from 2009):

1. Teton County, Wyo., $132,728
2. New York, NY $120,790
3. Loving County, Texas, $99,593
4. Pitkin County, Colo., $93,465
5. Marin County, Calif., $91,483
6. Fairfield County, Conn., $81,576
7. Westchester County, N.Y., $74,878
8. San Mateo County, Calif., $71,753
9. Morris County, N.J., $71,713
10. San Francisco, Calif. $71,342
11. Somerset County, N.J., $70,949
12. Alexandria, Va., $70,632
13. Arlington County, Va., $68,270
14. Fairfax County, Va. (includes Fairfax City and Falls Church), $67,909
15. Montgomery County, Md., $67,525
16. Bergen County, N.J., $67,125
17. Hunterdon County, N.J., $66,449
18. Sully County, S.D., $64,352
19. Blaine, Idaho, $64,207
20. Collier County, Fla., $63,276
..
OC is no 58. at $58,820.

Per capita income, top 5% income, high net worth household per IRS always put NY/SF/DC at the top. As you see, we have a few very diverse counties on this list. I Don't know about NY, but people in SF and DC frown upon flash.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Its tough for a county as big and diverse as OC to get really high on these charts. I wonder how it would rank if you cut out Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Stanton.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by SV808

Wealth is measured by net worth, not income. Many wealthy people have no income whatsoever. The IRS figures reveal that OC/LA is even below Detroit when it comes to % of high net worth individuals. You wouldn't know that by observing the behavior in OC.

In any case, if we want to measure it by per capita income (from 2009):

1. Teton County, Wyo., $132,728
2. New York, NY $120,790
3. Loving County, Texas, $99,593
4. Pitkin County, Colo., $93,465
5. Marin County, Calif., $91,483
6. Fairfield County, Conn., $81,576
7. Westchester County, N.Y., $74,878
8. San Mateo County, Calif., $71,753
9. Morris County, N.J., $71,713
10. San Francisco, Calif. $71,342
11. Somerset County, N.J., $70,949
12. Alexandria, Va., $70,632
13. Arlington County, Va., $68,270
14. Fairfax County, Va. (includes Fairfax City and Falls Church), $67,909
15. Montgomery County, Md., $67,525
16. Bergen County, N.J., $67,125
17. Hunterdon County, N.J., $66,449
18. Sully County, S.D., $64,352
19. Blaine, Idaho, $64,207
20. Collier County, Fla., $63,276
..
OC is no 58. at $58,820.

Per capita income, top 5% income, high net worth household per IRS always put NY/SF/DC at the top. As you see, we have a few very diverse counties on this list. I Don't know about NY, but people in SF and DC frown upon flash.

58 out of 3140 counties in the US, or, you know, really high on the list. I didn't see anyone claim that it's number one, but number 58 out of 3140 is no "poor" number.

Net worth includes holdings. I don't doubt that SF and NY have the highest net worth because they also have some of the most expensive real estate in the nation as well as a large number of national and international headquarters in Fortune 500 businesses that give out billions in bonuses and stock options per year. You're talking about people spending cash, looking flashy, whatever, and that is a product of income rather than stock options. OC earns plenty of money and thus has plenty to spend. Do some live above their means until it crashes down? Sure, but that happens everywhere, and that is why the foreclosure crisis isn't centered on OC, as I mentioned above.

[Twinkle Toes]

What he HELL does everyone do in OC to make money?

I'm a drug dealer and a pimp.

















Just kidding.

[aquahot]

I know a few Cardiologists live in Turtle Ridge/Turtle Rock, but they are the more conservative bunch. They don't flaunt their wealth like most of the entrepreneurs in Newport.