Been here 17 years, good place to live
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12/20/2011
I have been a resident of Laguna Hills since 1994. When I moved here it was actually less expensive than the Long Beach area where I was living. Now it is more expensive as south Orange County in general is a nice place to live.
The good: Weather, the economy, low crime, good roads/infrastructure. Close to the ocean and while not as cool in the summer as the beach, it is cooler in LH than where I work which is only 8 more miles inland. Great area if you like to bicycle. Most major roads have bike lanes, the Alsio Creek paved bike trail runs through town, and Woods Canyon open space is nearby for mountain biking and hiking. Even though it is a fairly conservative area, it is still California so being gay or other alternative lifestyle doesn't mean you are an outcast. Overall it's a planned and now somewhat aging (homes built in 1980's and forward)suburbia, maybe a little cookie cutter, but the city overall seems to take pride and keep up with landscaping on the roads and parks. There is at least one, or two, of every chain restaurant or big box store nearby, but there are also some cool Mom & Pop restaurants and stores here too. I don't have kids so can't comment on the school system.
The Bad: Traffic, especially if you have to commute on I-5 can get bad. I walk to many places, but its not the most walkable area, things can be far apart, but almost always there are sidewalks and it is safe. My guess would be if I was part of a typical suburban couple there would be pressure to "Keep up with the Joneses" as there is money here. People most often display it with expensive cars and aggresive driving.
Overall Laguna Hills is safe, quiet, and overall a pretty pleasant place to live.
Chris | Laguna Hills, CA