What are the best places to live in Southern California? We have the answers…
If you’re thinking about making a move to Southern California, what are the factors that are playing a part in your decision? Some people would say that it’s because SoCal has the best weather in the world, with cool nights and warm, sunny days. Others would say that having access to the beautiful Pacific Coast beaches and the mountains means that you have a multitude of choices when it comes to enjoying the outdoors and staying active all-year long.
But, your decision to move to SoCal should be based on more than just the warm weather and being able to enjoy the outdoors 365 days a year. You need to consider things like education, employment, and housing — an area’s livability index — when making your decision. The livability index measures housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity characteristics of a city that, together, enhance its livability over time.
What will your work commute look like? What city is the best place to raise a family? What city has the most affordable housing? Based on these and other livability qualities, what cities in San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles County show up at the top of the list of best places to live in Southern California?
Finding the perfect place
At the top of the list is Aliso Viejo in Orange County. Listed on the 2012 Forbes.com list of “America’s Top 25 Towns to Live Well, Aliso Viejo has excellent public schools, many job opportunities, and access to parks and wooded areas — the perfect city in which to live.”
Other Orange County cities that also ranked as some of the best places to live in SoCal are Newport Beach, San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda, Irvine, and Rancho Santa Margarita.
In Los Angeles County, Agoura Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Manhattan Beach, and Calabasas all rank high on the livability index.
According to Niche.com, the following cities in San Diego County ranked in the top 5 best places to live based on public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, crime, and local amenities:
- Torrey Hills
- Torrey Pines
- Carmel Valley
- Del Mar Mesa
- Solana Beach
East of Los Angeles lies the Inland Empire, a region of the L.A. metropolitan area that is comprised of a number of communities within Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Inland Empire has had one of the fastest-growing job markets of any metro area in the past five years. Combine that with reasonable housing costs and good schools, and the Inland Empire looks like a good choice if you’re moving to Southern California.
Making the move to Southern California soon?
If you’re thinking about moving to Southern California, you’re going to be moving to one of the best places to live in the U.S. With so many desirable areas to in which to live, you’re going to have to do your homework to decide which of them has the right combination of positives for your situation.
Just as important is making yourself a “moving to Los Angeles” insurance checklist, especially if you’re moving to Southern California from another state. What type of homeowners insurance are you going to need? What about renters’ insurance? Will you need to make changes to your medical and/or car insurance?
Contact the office of Daniel Fraisse, Los Angeles independent insurance broker. Dan has been serving clients throughout Southern California for 30 years.