Irvine, CA

Irvine, CA, is a safe, family-friendly, peaceful, and quiet city that offers all the amenities one would need. The weather is pleasant year-round and the residents are friendly. All in all, Irvine offers a high quality of life with its safe environment, excellent schools, abundant recreational opportunities, diverse population, and thriving business community. If you’re thinking about moving to Irvine, you’ve already made a great decision!

The Irvine housing market has always been hot – thanks to the desirability of the city. The median listing home price is approximately $1.3M to 1.4M. The average home price per square foot runs to about $687. According to real estate experts, there has been a trend of home values increasing up to 7.6% year-over-year.

The average rent per month for apartments is between $2,630 and $3,480. Of course, the rental cost depends on the neighborhood, home size, and the type of property you choose.

City highlights

This unique city has a charm that’s unmatched. Everywhere you go, there is some interesting facet to discover. For example, the popular Orange County Great Park has a huge vintage carousel and a massive, moored helium balloon. The visitors can take a hot air balloon ride 400 feet in the air for a panoramic view of the city. The Pretend City Children’s Museum is a joy for children where everything, from the farm to the cafe, has been scaled down to suit the kids. Interestingly, the Irvine Museum features Californian Impressionist artwork that’s historic and rare.

And there’s more. You can enjoy a range of attractions and activities such as the Irvine Spectrum Center – an outdoor shopping center that features many stores and restaurants, a movie theater, and a Ferris wheel. And, the famous Barclay Theatre. Then there’s the Irvine Regional Park which offers hiking trails, lots of green open spaces, a lake for fishing and boating, picnic areas, and a zoo. Young families especially love the Boomerang Bay Water Park and the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Moreover, Irvine is also an ideal place for professionals. The city hosts numerous corporations, with a significant concentration in the technology and semiconductor industries. These companies have established their national and/or international headquarters in the city.

Geographic location

Irvine is centrally located in southern Orange County, California, United States. The city is about 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles. With an area spanning over 65 square miles, Irvine is among the most extensive planned urban communities in the United States.

Climate

Irvine experiences a Mediterranean climate, with a good amount of precipitation during the winter season. Due to Irvine’s proximity to the coast, the different areas of the city have unique microclimates. For example, the June Gloom effect, with overcast mornings and occasional drizzle, is more pronounced in Irvine’s southern regions – located nearer to the Pacific Ocean.

Winters in Irvine are moderate, with no snow. Irvine residents enjoy about 280 sunny days in a year.

Demography

According to the 2020 census, the total population of Irvine was 307,670. The largest ethnic groups in Irvine include 42.6% Asians, 37.4% Whites, and 11.9% Hispanics approximately. The city boasts a good diversity score with people from a wide range of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity reflects in Irvine’s many restaurants, shops, and cultural events.

Cost of Living

Irvine is rapidly emerging as a top-tier location in America for individuals seeking a high standard of living. The average cost of living is around $2760, placing it among the top 0.9% of the most costly cities globally.

Without rent, a family of four can expect to have monthly expenses of $4,205 while a single person can expect to spend around $1,175 per month.

Keep in mind that the cost of living depends largely on the type of lifestyle and standard of living you wish to have.

The average income in Irvine ranges from $80,000 to $92,335 approximately.

Transportation

Irvine has various transportation options available, such as buses, light rail, and trains. The Orange County Transportation Authority, Amtrak, iShuttle, and Spectrumotion provide a robust transportation network to the residents. And, you can use your car or bike to get around in Irvine. What’s more, walking is another good option.

Schools

Irvine is one of the most educated cities in the US, in addition to having some of the best schools in the nation. Compared to the national average, this city has 124% more residents with bachelor’s degrees.

What’s more, there are several esteemed higher education institutions here. Some of these include the University of California, Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California, as well as satellite campuses of California State University Fullerton, University of La Verne, and Pepperdine University.

What is the city like?

Irvine is undoubtedly a great city to live in. It’s one of the safest cities in the United States with a low crime rate. The residents and visitors feel safe walking and biking around the place.

Furthermore, the city is home to some of the top-rated schools – public and private schools at all levels – in the state of California.

For outdoor recreation, there are beautiful parks, nature preserves, and open spaces.

The highly diverse city offers a solid business community and tons of professional opportunities. With shopping centers, stores, and restaurants, the city is a complete package. And the best part is that the air quality here is amazing and the streets are spotless.