Chino Hills v. north OC for a down-to-earth family? (Fullerton: condo, neighborhoods)

[auberrylane]

Hi, husband has a job in Diamond Bar and we are looking to relocate. We currently live 5 hours away. We are looking into either Chino Hills or Brea, Fullerton, etc.

I'm familiar with Chino Hills, love the country scenery, family friendly vibe, good schools, ethnic food. We are a down-to-earth family and we like diversity--nice people of any race will be our friends. My only concern with CH is that I read that the City Council was not happy with non-English business signs popping up around town (back in 2007). CH people-- is this representative of how the residents feel also?

I have no clue about north OC-- Brea, Fullerton etc. Anyone lived in these places? What are the vibes there? I posted in the OC forum but didn't get much specific feedback.

A little about us:
- looking for SFH or condo in the 5-600k range
- safe, friendly neighborhood
- we LOVE the outdoors. I want a nice backyard, or access to park/trails WITHOUT having to drive anywhere. If anyone can speak to specific neighborhoods where this is the case, please share!!!
- good schools
- down-to-earth folks, not pretentious
- variety of kids activities within close driving
- husband wants <30 min to Diamond Bar

Thanks in advance!

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by auberrylane

Hi, husband has a job in Diamond Bar and we are looking to relocate. We currently live 5 hours away. We are looking into either Chino Hills or Brea, Fullerton, etc.

I'm familiar with Chino Hills, love the country scenery, family friendly vibe, good schools, ethnic food. We are a down-to-earth family and we like diversity--nice people of any race will be our friends. My only concern with CH is that I read that the City Council was not happy with non-English business signs popping up around town (back in 2007). CH people-- is this representative of how the residents feel also?

I have no clue about north OC-- Brea, Fullerton etc. Anyone lived in these places? What are the vibes there? I posted in the OC forum but didn't get much specific feedback.

A little about us:
- looking for SFH or condo in the 5-600k range
- safe, friendly neighborhood
- we LOVE the outdoors. I want a nice backyard, or access to park/trails WITHOUT having to drive anywhere. If anyone can speak to specific neighborhoods where this is the case, please share!!!
- good schools
- down-to-earth folks, not pretentious
- variety of kids activities within close driving
- husband wants <30 min to Diamond Bar

Thanks in advance!

I lived in Fullerton for 18 years of my adult life, and my sisters/brother-in-law and family live in Brea currently. I also grew up in La Habra, which is next to both of these cities.

I also worked in Chino for a while and so was in the Chino Hills environs.

Given the fairly large Asian population in the CH area, I don't think non-English signs would be an issue.

As for Brea, the vibe is similar but some differences. For one, there is a large mall for shopping. For another, it is smaller in area and population than Chino Hills (it has a rural segment off Carbon Canyon Road known as Olinda). It has an old town area of great charm, though a good portion of the original downtown was bulldozed to put in the shopping center in the NW corner of Imperial/Brea, backing up onto Birch St, which was also redone.

Fullerton is a larger city than either Brea or CH. It has schools of higher education but still wilderness accessible as the other two. There is more of a Hispanic presence generally but a fairly large Asian presence on the west side of town.

I don't want to go on much more as this is the IE forum. PM me for any other details.

[auberrylane]

Thanks for your reply! I didn't know that Brea had an old town- I will definitely visit it soon. Thanks again!

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by auberrylane

Thanks for your reply! I didn't know that Brea had an old town- I will definitely visit it soon. Thanks again!

The best place to see the old town as it was is in the residential neighborhoods; only the portion north of Ash but south of Lambert off Brea Blvd is as it was; the rest of it was bulldozed and redone.