The Ultimate Guide to Orange County Cities

California is a dream destination for many homebuyers desiring luxury real estate in Los Angeles, but buyers seeking space and solitude plant roots down the Southern California coastline.

Orange County hosts a collection of hillside towns, seaside enclaves on the beach, and small cities featuring perfect blends of greenspaces and bustling commercial districts. Unlike the busier South Bay cities to the north, Orange County cities exude laid-back vibes as residents spend the day shopping and wander over to the waterfront to watch the surf and sunset in Newport Beach.

While buyers dream of moving to the area, many may not know where to start their search. For that reason, we’ve compiled a buyer’s guide to some of the best places to live in Orange County. 

Best Orange County Cities

• Huntington Beach
• Irvine
• Newport Beach
• Mission Viejo 
• Laguna Beach
• Yorba Linda
• San Clemente
• Laguna Niguel
• Lake Forest
• Aliso Viejo

Huntington Beach 

Known as Surf City USA, early risers can head down to the Huntington Beach waterfront at sunrise to see droves of surfers catching the curls before they head into work later in the morning. 

The beach covers nine miles of coastline, and residents flock to the Huntington Beach Pier to watch from above as surfers cruise amidst the raging waves. Locals can routinely find bikers and joggers silhouetted against the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets on the Huntington Beach Bike Trail. 

Homebuyers thinking of purchasing a home in Huntington Beach can look forward to attending the yearly US Open of Surfing on Independence Day. Hundreds of surfers from around the world flock to compete on the towering curls of Huntington Beach. Near the pier are granite impressions in honor of surfing legends at the Surfing Walk of Fame.

Located 35 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles, Huntington Beach is a great place to live for folks trying to stay within reach of Santa Monica, Hawthorne, or Irvine. Beach Boulevard, Main Street, and the Pacific Coast Highway are the commercial districts in Huntington Beach. There you’ll find retail outlets, grocery stores, and various local restaurants.

Residents take to the streets after working hours to ride bikes around the intersections of Main Street and the Pacific Coast Highway, where they shop at surfing boutiques or enjoy open-air dining on Huntington Beach Boardwalk in the glow of the California sunset. 

Huntington Beach is not just for surfers, as locals routinely engage in golf, hiking, and boating festivities. Beyond shopping, surfing, and exploring, locals can expect to find a varied collection of neighborhoods, from beachside communities with high-end new construction homes to idyllic villages dominated by two-story homes with spacious yards dotting the tree-lined cul-de-sacs. 

Covering over 28 square miles, Huntington Beach stretches several miles inland, providing chances to close a deal on a beachside compound or a townhouse nestled near Huntington Harbor. 

Irvine 

Bordered by Newport Beach to the south and Limestone Canyon Regional Park to the north, Irvine is a master-planned city developed in the 1960s on land owned by the Irvine Corporation. Irvine has a mix of new construction homes built in the Spanish Revival and Craftsman style house erected as early as the 1960s. 

Irvine comprises 38 villages featuring distinctive building styles, all separated by streets with six lanes. Sprawling neighborhoods like Turtle Rock and Shady Canyon overlook the Irvine Technology Center, where engineering and semiconductor companies headquartered here have offices staffed by recent graduates from the University of California, Irvine. 

Commercial districts filled with art and yoga studios circle these villages, where homebuyers can also dine at high-end eateries. The Irvine Spectrum Center is a popular haunt where homeowners can find a Trader Joe’s, a Target, and a Cheesecake Factory. 

Irvine creates greenspaces by dedicating trails and parks below the power lines supplying energy to the villages, and reclaimed water programs help with irrigation in the area. There are 20 community parks, 40 neighborhood parks, and over 60 miles of bike trails. The idyllic villages make Irvine a favored location for filming movies, and directors filmed over 50 movie scenes within the city limits.

Each year at the Orange County Great Park, the Irvine Global Village Festival celebrates local restaurants, shops, and businesses run by residents and their cultural roots, as well as other cultures from around the globe. 

Newport Beach

LA locals wandering south past Huntington Beach Santa Ana River Trail will find the small beachside community of Newport Beach. 

Newport Beach is known for opulent oceanfront and riverfront property, but homes reside on hillside bluffs that rise the closer residents get to California State Route 73. The Santa Ana River creates the northern border of Newport Beach. And locals exploring the region will find the exclusive neighborhoods of East Bluff and the Big Canyon, where homebuyers can find townhouses and Craftsman-style homes overlooking the river. 

Vista Point is a popular spot to stop in and take in the views after exploring the Mountains to the Sea Bikeway and Running path. But locals bemused by shopping spend their downtime perusing the luxury outlets like Lululemon and Warby Parker at the Newport Center. Financial services firms like Pacific Asset Management and PIMCO built offices surrounding the shopping center, just minutes away from the Newport Beach Country Club. 

Private hillside communities overlook marinas filled with townhouses in a city once known for maritime industries. Newport Beach today is one of the most expensive Orange County cities and a world-renowned tourism destination. 

Travelers flock to Balboa Island to view boats in Newport Bay and lounge on the beach. The island features cozy new construction bungalows and beachfront homes complete with private docks. Lido Island is another popular target for homebuyers as the island hosts multi-million dollar homes complete with secluded beaches and boat berths. 

Like many South Bay cities to the north, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is where homeowners can find restaurants, high-end coffee shops, and even a New York-style deli.

Newport Beach is a hotspot for tourists from around the world looking to sunbathe near Balboa Beach. But for the over 85,000 locals looking for a respite from the crowds, they can explore Crystal Cove State Park shoreline and even get a bite at Shake Shake near the waterfront.

Mission Viejo 

When developer Donald Bren looked at hillsides and valleys of Rancho Mission Viejo, he turned what many called undevelopable land into a master-planned commuter city. 

Granted to Orange County in the 1960s, Mission Viejo was one of the last cities built in the region because the geography posed difficulties for city planners laying out the city streets.

Californians excited to move to one of the newest Orange County Cities flocked to Mission Viejo, buying tracts of undeveloped land to build on. 

Despite lacking an oceanfront like other Orange County Cities, Lake Mission Viejo offers locals a chance to lounge on a small beach and go boating. Buyers can close deals on spacious homes featuring private boat berths on tree-lined streets surrounding the lake. 

Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing at the lake are popular pastimes at the lake. But locals can also enjoy movies and concerts at shoreside events. Oso Creek runs through Mission Viejo, and residents can find mosaic artwork, expansive lawns, and even an Obelisk situated near the trail running along the waterfront. 

Cabot Road and Marguerite Parkway are the main commercial strips of the neighborhood where buyers can find a gaggle of big-box retailers and a collection of restaurants for new homeowners to sample. 

Beyond the lake, Californians exploring the area can find plenty of parks to explore, and golfers can play a round at one of the three golf courses in the district. Many Mission Viejo residents work in technology and engineering and commute to Irvine via the 5 freeway. 

Laguna Beach 

LA explorers heading south on the PCH will find the resort city of Laguna Beach nestled just to the south of Crystal Cove state park.

Most surfers prefer the curls found in Newport and Huntington Beach, making the scenic beachfront coves and bays of Laguna Beach perfect for Californians looking for an escape from the crowds to the north. The area has remained largely undeveloped due to limited highway access, a dedicated greenbelt, and the protected status of Crystal Cove to the north. 

Rocky cliff sides crowned with condos jut out into the Pacific to form the coves and bays of Laguna Beach. Tourism is a leading Laguna Beach industry, and over 6 million visitors come to the city each year to visit the protected coastline, beautiful hillside vistas, and the annual arts festivals. 

The Sawdust Art Festival celebrates fine art and handcrafted handiwork, and events like the Pageant of the Masters display humans carefully made up in the fashion of Tableaux Vivants or Living Pictures, mimicking famous artwork scenes. 

Homebuyers thinking of moving to Laguna Beach can find Modern-style builds from the 1930s on quiet, tree-lined streets and expansive new construction villas located just a stone’s throw away from secluded hillside hiking trails. The Top of the World hiking trail is a popular destination for explorers as it provides panoramic views of Laguna Beach. 

Primarily a commuter city, there are plenty of boutique shops, outdoor stores, art studios lining Laguna Canyon Road, and hungry homebuyers can explore Route 1 to find an eclectic mix of delis, pubs, and high-end eateries.

Yorba Linda

Yorba Linda is one of the most northeastern Orange County cities that is a popular destination for homeowners working in Los Angeles or Irvine.

Famous for being the birthplace of President Richard Nixon, Yorba Linda preserved the home he grew up in and named a museum and library after him in memoriam. 

Yorba Linda harkens to the Spanish past of the Greater Los Angeles region, as Yorba is the last name of the rancher who owned the land, and Linda means beautiful in Spanish. 

Rollings hills previously used for growing barley and grazing sheep are now laden with mansions built in the early 2000s. Down below these homes, buyers will find Craftsman-style homes erected back in the 1980s to serve residents looking for greener pastures outside of LA.

While there are hiking trails in the northeastern reaches of Yorba Linda for outdoors-leaning homebuyers, shopping is one of the main pastimes for residents. The city has several large shopping malls like the Yorba Linda Town Center and the sprawling Savi Ranch, where car dealerships, restaurants, boutique shopping outlets, and a Costco reside just off the Riverside Freeway. 

Fans of Funny Car racing visiting Savi Ranch can wander over to the John Force Racing headquarters to explore the museum dedicated to his illustrious career. Golfers flock to Yorba Linda to play at Black Gold Golf Club, the Yorba Linda Country Club, or head over to the Green River Golf Club for a round.  

Commuters traveling to Downtown Los Angeles take the Riverside Freeway to 5 freeway. Homeowners working in Irvine take the Eastern Transportation Corridor to reach the tech hubs of the city.

San Clemente 

Picturesque views of San Clemente await motorists driving south on the PCH past Dana Point.

Famous for the sweeping hills, oceanfront homes, and Spanish Colonial architecture, the city is known as the "Spanish Village by the Sea." San Clemente is far-flung from Downtown Los Angeles and unsuited for Downtown LA office workers. But commuters can take the 5 freeway north to reach Anaheim, Irvine, and other Orange County Cities or head south towards San Diego. 

Beachside lounging is a leading pastime in San Clemente. But when locals aren’t resting on the beach, they are shopping at the Outlets in San Clemente. After a day of exploring the shopping districts, homebuyers thinking of moving to the area should wander to Avenida Victoria to take in the sunset from the San Clemente Pier that juts into the Pacific Ocean.

The downtown region of San Clemente features Spanish influences, and Californians checking out the area can expect to find many stucco-sided buildings adorned with terracotta tiled roofs. Many homes in San Clemente feature similar Spanish themes, but diligent homebuyers can find new construction Postmodern compounds. 

Like most of the oceanfront Orange County Cities, San Clemente exudes a laid-back vibe. Residents can catch curls early in the morning and end the day with a round on the links at one of the local golf courses.

Laguna Niguel 

The prime location of Laguna Niguel in the San Joaquin Hills makes it one of the most sought-after Orange County Cities. 

Located in the southeast of Orange County next to Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel is a bedroom community where residents travel to Irvine, Newport Beach, and Los Angeles for work via the 5 freeway.

Development booms in the 60s, 70s, and 80s turned the surrounding hillsides of Laguna Niguel into neighborhoods interwoven with parks and hiking trails. Many of the homes in the region feature the Mission and Colonial Revival styles, but buyers can also find Storybook and Craftsman-style houses from the 1960s dotting the landscape. The San Joaquin Hills dominate the Laguna Niguel landscape, and there are many dedicated green spaces and trails in Laguna Niguel for residents to explore. 

A phalanx of grocery stores, big-box retailers, and restaurants reside between Alicia Parkway and La Paz Road. But if home hunters are hungry after a day of attending open houses can find more eateries just off Greenfield Drive.  

LA residents looking for a getaway should consider turning a weekend of property tours into a vacation and stay at the famous Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel or at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach hotel. 

Lake Forest 

Homebuyers commuting to the engineering and technology hubs of Irvine will love the quaint city of Lake Forest.

Originally called El Toro, residents voted to change the name to Lake Forest in the 90s. Today, homebuyers can find a condo or a townhouse at an affordable price just minutes from Irvine.  

Lake Forest derives its name from the lakes and eucalyptus forest in the area created by city developers when they broke ground. Homebuyers can scoop up properties sitting on the shores of either of these lakes where they can dock small watercraft and join community centers offering clubhouses, swimming pools, and outdoor dining space. 

Companies like Oakley Sunglasses and Etnies Skateboarding have headquarters in Lake Forest, as well as a collection of aerospace companies. Beyond providing jobs to Lake Forest residents, Etnies also built a 60,000 square foot public skatepark in the area, the largest in America. 

Sports are a favored pastime for the Lake Forest community, and in 2014 the city opened the 86 acre Lake Forest Sports Park and Recreation Center. Residents can play a pickup game of basketball, sign up for educational classes, or stop in on specific days to shop at a farmers market that comes to town once a week. 

But the sleek designs of Lake Forest hide some of the deepest roots of the pastoral past of Orange County. Nostalgic homeowners can travel to the Heritage Hill Historical Park and Museum to see Adobe buildings constructed in the 1800s.

Near the Foothill Transportation Corridor and the business district, new homeowners will find the Foothill Ranch Towne Center, a shopping mecca filled with chain retailers, home goods stores, and familiar restaurants like In-N-Out Burger. 

Aliso Viejo 

Aliso Viejo is a scenic Orange County city nestled in the northern reaches of the San Joaquin Hills north of Laguna Niguel. 

Aliso Viejo provides homebuyers with opportunities to purchase expansive Spanish Colonial homes sitting atop the hillsides or close deals on condo units near the Aliso Viejo Town Center shopping district. Another commuter community, this Orange County city offers residents plenty of outlets to unwind after a day of work, from exploring trails crisscrossing the San Joaquin Hills to playing a round of golf at the Aliso Viejo Country Club. 

Like Laguna Niguel to the south, Aliso Viejo has dedicated parks and green spaces for locals to enjoy, and the community park near Route 73 provides plenty of picnicking opportunities. The Aliso Viejo Library is an attraction in its own right, as the building features a towering stone and steel clock tower. 

Another draw for the area is the Soka Performing Arts Center, where over 1,000 people could gather before the pandemic to see jazz concerts, pianists, and other musicians perform. 

Prevu Real Estate, Inc. is a licensed real estate broker in California, license number 02134758.