Safest Cities in Orange County

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No matter if you’re relocating alone or with your beloved family, you must be wondering what are the safest cities in Orange County? Making a decision to relocate can be much easier if you know you’re going to live in an exciting and safe area in California, where you can be relaxed whether you’re going to the store or a park.

What Is the Safest City in Orange County?

It is hard to give just one answer to this question because most of the places around OC have extremely low crime rates, and they are highly ranked among the best places to live in Cali. No matter if you’re relocating with your family or on your own, once you move here, you’ll forget about moving stress in no time because these places offer everything you dreamed of when you imagined your life in Cali. 

With great business opportunities, fun amenities, and good schools, you’ll hardly ever get bored or worried about your well-being. Some of our favorites will be described in the following article, so you can choose which one of the mentioned places suits you best. If you’re wondering which city in Orange County has the highest crime rate, that is also hard to tell, but some of the places often mentioned in crime reports are San Bernardino and Barstow. Violent crimes are generally not so common, so that’s something you shouldn’t worry about.

 City buildings
You can find great business opportunities and amazing schools around these places

Irvine Is One of the Safest Cities in Orange County, CA, Especially Neighborhoods Such as Aliso Viejo and San Clemente

Wonder what is the best city to live in Orange County? For many, it is Irvine. It offers everything from amazing weather to safety and many business opportunities. One of the cons of living here might be a somewhat higher cost of living, but if you’re curating your moving expenses checklist and trying to do the math, you should also be aware of the fact that people here usually have incomes almost twice as high as regular in the US. Some reviews show that for a family of 4 living under one roof, you’ll need about $8,000 for monthly costs, and about $2,000 will go on housing.


One of many other advantages is the fact that your children will definitely have great educational opportunities, from kindergarten to university. For many years The Irvine Unified School District has been listed as one of the highest-rated districts in the country. The city is calm and quiet because of the lack of nightlife – a few bars and pubs are open daily, but nothing wild that can disturb your peace.

Aliso Viejo Is One of the Best Irvine Suburbs

With a population of 50,000 residents, amazing schools, a lovely environment, and picturesque scenery, this place will win your heart in a second. There is almost not a single negative aspect of living in Aliso Viejo, except maybe the cost of living if you are on a tight budget. But when compared to prices in Irvine, housing here is definitely more affordable – the median home value is about $600,000, while the median rent is about $2,200. Residents here tend to own their homes rather than rent, so this place might bring more opportunities to potential homebuyers.

San Clemente Has Low Crime Rates and Great Amenities

Known for its unique mix of ocean, mountains and hills, pleasant weather conditions, and interesting Spanish colonial architecture, San Clemente is often nicknamed a “Spanish Village by the Sea.” People from LA and San Diego often come here for a weekend getaway since it is close, so this place might be great for developing small tourism-related businesses. In your free time, you can visit many local attractions such as:

  • San Clemente Wine Company,
  • Living Art Gallery Tattoo Lounge,
  • Still Water Spirits & Sounds,
  • Cabrillo Playhouse. 

Before filling a rental application, you should know that median rent prices here are considered reasonably affordable – about $1,800 per month, while the median home value is much higher than the national median value – about $900,000 to be precise. Most of the residents here own their homes, so it might be harder to find a good place to rent if that is the first thing on your to-do list

Laguna Beach Is Great for Active Lifestyle

Famous for its natural beauty, entertainment options, many interesting art galleries, and Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters during summers, this attractive beach town is one of our best suggestions for a peaceful and luxurious life in Cali. The crime index on NeighborhoodScout shows that this place is safer than 38% of the cities in the US. The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime around here is 1 in 601, which is significantly lower than in most parts of the state.


With many beautiful beaches and an extensive network of trails ideal for hiking and biking, this place is also great for those who live an active lifestyle filled with adventures, not to mention various water sports activities you can engage in. It has a population of about 24,000 residents, so there is no doubt you’ll make some new friends you can share adventures and memories with once you move to your new home.

Cost of Living in Laguna Beach Is Higher Than Average

This area is often mentioned as one of the wealthiest parts of Orange County, so if you plan on buying real estate here, you might need over $1,000,000. Renting is more affordable, and it will cost you around $2,200 per month. It might also be a good idea to find a roommate if you want to lower your costs. On the other hand, you should know that median household income is also very high – according to Niche, it is $130,000.

Beach
Enjoy beautiful beaches at Laguna Beach

Rancho Santa Margarita Has the Lowest Crime Rates in California

Wonder what are the top 10 safest cities in California? Well, Rancho Santa Margarita is definitely on this list for 2021, ranked No.2 among 1,345 places in Cali. With a current population of 50,000 residents, this master-planned community is spreading along the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and offers attractive amenities, including exciting retail shops, restaurants and bars, and interesting annual events. If you’re moving with pets, you’ll definitely love a local dog park where you can participate in different activities with your beloved animals and socialize with other pet owners. Picturesque Lake Rancho Santa Margarita is an ideal place for weekend recreation – it’s perfect for jogging, biking, or walking.

Cost of Living in This City Is About California’s Average

Compared to other safe places, life here is considered quite affordable. According to Niche’s reviews, the median home value in this area is approximately $600,000 as opposed to the state’s median home value of $500,000. When it comes to median rent prices, you can find a decent apartment to rent around here for about $2,000 per month. You should also keep in mind that the majority of locals are homeowners, so it might be easier to find a place to buy rather than rent. The median household income, because of the great business opportunities, it’s twice as high as the national median income – about $120,000.

family with a dog
Santa Margarita offers an amazing dog park

Santa Clara Has Attractive Setting

Often mentioned as one of the best cities to live in OC, Santa Clara definitely has a lot to offer. With its vibrant and exciting environment, plenty of fun amenities, picturesque landscapes, and attractive setting, you’ll find many interesting things to do for fun, no matter the age. Schools around here are highly rated, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your children can attend some of the best educational institutions in the area if you decide to relocate here. 


Santa Clara has a population of approximately 130,000 residents, and most of them own their homes. When it comes to the cost of living, it’s higher than the national average but still affordable if you consider the median household income of $130,000. The median home value is about $1,000,000, while the rent is approximately $2,400. If you are living on a budget, it might be a good option for you to find a roommate and split the costs. Check out this video for more interesting information about this place.

Community Events and Amenities Will Amaze You

One of many events most of the residents enjoy from year to year is the famous Wine Festival which includes dancing in the streets. Some local schools organize California History Dan, Ice Cream Social, and The Nutcrackers play at the school or Walk-a-Thon fundraiser. The annual Backyard BBQ Talent Show also attracts many residents to gather and socialize.

money
Household incomes in Santa Clara are twice as high as the national average

Newport Beach Offers Exciting Amenities

Newport Beach is one of the safest cities in Southern California, according to FBI crime rates and statistics. It offers its residents an urban-suburban mix and plenty of fun amenities, including many bars, restaurants, parks, and shopping places. Although the cost of living here is significantly higher than the average, safety and serenity like this don’t have a price. The median household income in this area is about $130,000, as opposed to the national median of $60,000. If you are planning to boost your career, relocating here might bring you plenty of new job possibilities, and with a higher salary, the cost of living will also become more bearable. If you want to relocate efficiently, you can always hire professional Orange County movers, avoid moving scams and ensure you save money with their affordable local relocation services.

port
According to FBI crime rates, Newport Beach is one of the safest places around here

Garden Grove Is One of the Best Los Angeles Suburbs

If you’re looking for the best places to live in OC, Garden Grove should be on your list. This place, with a population of 200,000 residents, attracts both young professionals and families with children – all of it because of great safety and amazing amenities. Apart from many business opportunities, you can also find great free-time activities – such as visiting bars and restaurants, exciting shopping places and more. LA downtown is just 25 miles away, so you can visit it frequently if you feel like it. If you need to commute for work, it shouldn’t take you longer than 30 minutes. Keep in mind that you can always relocate your business office if you decide to hire movers in Orange County, CA, and invest in their commercial relocation services. They can assist you with packing fragile items and show you some useful moving hacks.

Safety in Garden Grove Is on the Highest Level

Known for its professional academic environment, friendly residents, and well-maintained streets, Garden Grove is definitely one of the cleanest and safest places in the area. According to NeighborhoodScout, this place is safer than 19% of the cities in the US. Chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime around here are 1 in 339.

Hire the Best Movers in Orange County and Relocate With Ease

If you are planning a local relocation to one of these places and don’t know how to pack plates or wonder how to pack dishes, you can hire our professional movers in Orange County for a residential relocation service. In case you want to relocate your storage belongings, you can contact us and request our in and out storage relocation service. If you need an additional workforce to load your relocating truck with heavy belongings, our affordable movers in Orange County, CA, can offer you a convenient labor-only relocation service. They can also remind you of the most commonly forgotten things to pack and tell you what items movers won’t move. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions, and we’ll be more than happy to help you out.

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