Looking for a diverse Family oriented city in Orange County (Garden Grove: crime, houses)

[kay1080]

Hello,
I'm will be relocating to California, and i was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on some of the cities near Rancho Santa Margarita? Or give me an idea where would be an ideal place to move with a family. I'm very concerned about crime, schools, and housing?

Kellsterz, Orlando,Fl

[dusesean1986]

Rancho Santa Margarita and the surrounding cities are excellent. Located in South Orange County, you won't be dissapointed by this area. I'm not sure if you've visited the area yet. The crime is low, schools are excellent, community is friendly, a little isolated because of wealth, and because most Californians don't converse too well with neighbors. The housing is quite expensive though, something your probably not familiar with. The diversity is excellent, weather is fantastic. The summer heat is dry and is low to mid 80's. The winter is mid 40's to high 60's. We have no bugs in California.

Rancho Santa Margarita's Demographics as of 2000

White:74.4%
Latino 13%
Black 1.8%
Asian 7.4%
Other 2.8%

Please ask anymore questions! Hope this helps!

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

..Look into the Cypress, Placentia, Brea area. South Orange County is one of the Whitest areas in SoCal.

Surrounding RSM are much wealthier communities(such as Coto and Dove Cyn.) and are very white(as far as I know).

[speedywriter]

Originally Posted by kay1080

Hello,
I'm will be relocating to California, and i was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on some of the cities near Rancho Santa Margarita? Or give me an idea where would be an ideal place to move with a family. I'm very concerned about crime, schools, and housing?

Kellsterz, Orlando,Fl

Your thread has "diverse" in the title. Then you go on to mention RSM. Just wanted to let you know, south county (of which RSM is a part), is actually known for being very white. I saw the demographics another poster listed, and I was surprised because it's not what I've noticed. I go to the area quite a bit for work. That said, RSM is very nice, as are basically all surrounding cities in the area, and very safe and family-oriented. It's a newer master-planned community. Schools are good, I hear, and housing is very expensive.

Also, it's basically desert. I saw the temperature figures another poster listed. I only wish 85 was the high, and only in the summer! Where I live, about 30 mi. away, we just had over the weekend 4 days in a row of 80-degree weather...and it's still winter! It can be 10 degrees hotter in inland south county. And with the dryness and few tall trees, you can get to feeling that you're being jerky-ized.

[kay1080]

Thanks speedy ! Where in the OC are you located?

[speedywriter]

Originally Posted by kay1080

Thanks speedy ! Where in the OC are you located?

Sure thing.

Western Westminster/western Garden Grove/southern Cypress area. It's cooler (temperature-wise only ) than inland south Orange County. Though between 5-10 mi. from the ocean, there's still a lovely afternoon breeze. Don't get me wrong: It's still hot (in fact too much so for me) but not as hot. It's also more diverse, with probably an average of 25-ish percent non-white (Asian, Hispanic, black, in that order). Also, housing is less expensive, and you get a bigger lot. Also, we are closer to a major metropolitan area, LA, for more options in work and/or entertainment.

On the downside, housing is older. Ours was built in 1959. There's plenty, though, built in the 70s. Also, I would not recommend Westminster schools. In fact, I transfer my kids to a different district. The schools in western Garden Grove and southern Cypress, however, are considered good. Western Garden Grove seems to have a lot of participation in Little League. Cypress has newer houses (with correspondingly smaller lots, though) and a nice community center with seasonal events and lots of classes for kids. Cypress also has a 2-year college and a thriving business community.