Financially challenging for a young middle class f - 10/6/2013
Southern California is a wonderful place to live (if you can afford it). Currently, we are a family of 3- myself, my husband and our son. We are FINALLY thinking it may be possible to have another child, but we had to sell our condo to pay off some debt and I believe we'll only be renting now until we move out of state. Our household income is in the 110k-130k range and between paying for 2 children in childcare and renting an apartment, it will be nearly impossible for us to save enough for a downpayment on a decent property here. In order to find something affordable our commute to and from work would be horrific and then when do we spend time with our children. Southern California is a wonderful place for families with a higher income, or maybe that have family support for childcare (and could save that $2,000/month), but since we don't have that, I believe we need to move out of state to obtain the quality of life we've always looked forward to. Read More

Access to health care - 11/29/2010
Numerous highly rated hospitals are located within a 20 mile radius. Variety of hospitals include specialty, such as Childrens Hospital of Orange County; private; university; bed size of less than 99; bed size of greater than Read More

Orange California - 9/4/2010
The Weather is great. However, the housing, jobs, schools and the State Government is Read More

Cost of living in Orange, California - 4/27/2010
With the recent decline in the real estate market, housing in Orange may become affordable for more folks. Still, you should expect to pay at least $400,000 for a modest sized, 1950's era ranch style home. Compared to much of the rest of the country, this is still fairly pricey.  Read More

The weather nice - 8/27/2008
I like the weather here because it's not to humid or Read More

The Good Life - 4/2/2008
Born and raised in Orange County, I went away to the Midwest for college. After four years in fly-over country, I came back home to Orange County. Boy how you take the weather and beach for granted while you're here and miss them when you're gone. I'm so glad to see them again.

Honestly, Orange County is possibly the nicest place to live in the country. Granted it's expensive and crowded, but it has everything one might be looking for. I'll agree with the previous poster, you pay for what you get, and that holds very true in Orange County.

To the outsider, Orange County looks affluent and exclusive. Everyone owns a mansion, a yacht, a Rolls-Royce, a private plane, a country club membership, etc. In some parts of Orange County, this is very true. Newport Beach and Laguna Beach in particular are well known for their wealthy residents. However, that is not true for the entire county. Let me give you the "Real REAL Orange County", not what is shown on "The O.C." Read More

Love this place - 5/19/2007
I came here for graduate school and stayed for my lifetime. I love it here. The old town is cool, and it's really close to everything. Disneyland is just down the road, as is Angels Stadium. You have the beach about 20 minutes away. L.A. about 30 minutes away and San Diego about an hour drive away. The weather is beautiful, the sun shining and the temperatures moderate all year round. Don't know how you can get much better than Read More

housing - 3/26/2007
the cost of housing here is over $600,000. median, but is a great place to live. Orange is central to all of Orange County, that is why so many live here.Read More

Better to rent than to BUY - 8/21/2006
This place is getting redicuolusly expensive to live. It is better to rent a nice house for half the price of the mortgage. There is everything to do. Surf one day the next day go snowboarding or wake boarding. You can shop and eat and eat at some of the most expensive restaurants. Patying is off the hool everynight. Oh and you have to roll with your car Read More

I love Orange County - 5/15/2006
I love where I live. I hate that people refer it to "the OC". That old saying holds true here- "You get what you pay for". If you can afford to live in Orange County, you probably will never want to move away.

It is a relatively small county with all the action of Los Angeles, and not as much as the hassel. I couldn't ask for better weather. Lots of sunshine, and lots to do. Orange County can be everything to many different people. We have beach cities, for those who want to be by the beach, we have areas near the hills for those who want to feel "far away". We have award winning communities for families who want to live around people that are like them, ee have cities that are trying to recreate the "urban" feel for those who prefer that kind of living, we have entire gated cities, for those who want privacy, we have shacks and we have mansions and estates, we have countless downtown communities, we have the "historic" areas and we have the pockets of cultural Read More