Firstly why Orange, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Orange
• State: California
• Population: 139,959 people
• Orange’s quick summary would be Recognized for the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano and its charming Old Towne district.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 6,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 8,000 annually
• Net Migration: -2000 less people annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 4,000
• Number of Homeless people: 600

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it features a historic downtown and family-friendly appeal attracting families

Perk #1: Orange Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 33%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 52%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Hispanic
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $87,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Orange is $74,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $-13000 in negative cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Orange’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 145 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $4,743
• Property Tax %: 1.15%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,500
• Rent for an average house: $2,400
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Orange
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Orange, Anaheim, Villa-Park, North-Tustin, and probably could include Garden-Grove
• Avg. Age of Homes in Orange: 55 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.8%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Orange’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Orange are  Healthcare, Retail, and Education
• Orange Job Scene: healthy job market focusing on education and retail
• The General Tech Scene: developing tech ecosystem centered around local businesses and health tech , ,
• Orange Resident’s pay $1,200 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Orange: 10.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 140 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 12

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Orange

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $170 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-5 and Route 22 facilitate travel through Orange
• Commute Time: 25 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: traffic congestion near the Orange Circle
• Transportation Score: 29 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Orange: 100,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.7
• No. of Car Washes: 8 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Orange: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 60 of 100
• Local Airport: John Wayne

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Orange’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Earthquakes
• General Weather in Orange is best described as experiences warm summers with temperatures in the 90s and mild winters with occasional rainfall
• Winter Weather in Orange i’d describe as mild with sunny days
• Spring Weather in Orange can be described as warm and dry
• Summer’s in Orange are mostly hot and sunny
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Orange is usually warm and dry
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 14 days in summer
• Days in a row in Orange below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 15 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality mainly affected by local traffic
• Orange Winter Air average air quality influenced by local traffic

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Orange Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Orange 3
• While the number of trade schools inside Oranges’s city limits are 2
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Orange Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Orange Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 8 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Orange only Doctors is about 200
• Local Hospitals here is  6
• Full-time Orange only Police Officers is about 180
• Crime Rate Index: 45/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Orange’s Monthly utility bill average is $210
• Orange’s Monthly Gym Membership: $62
• Orange’s Water Quality Score: 73

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Orange

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 11 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: historic city with a charming downtown and community events
• You might enjoy concerts at the Gus Adams Community Center
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Orange  has a charming nightlife scene with local bars restaurants and cultural events appealing to families

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Orange

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes a mix of American-style diners and local restaurants
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 60 scattered around Orange
• The Popular Sports Team is Orange High School
• Top Level Political Climate in Orange can be described as politically mixed with conservative and progressive influences
• Orange’s Longer standing religious establishment is Orange County Community Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Orange Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Orange has 40 Parks?
• Orange County Great Park is Orange’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Orange Farmers Market normally open Saturday 8am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, cycling, and outdoor concerts

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Orange Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Orange can be described as suburban lifestyle known for its historic district and community events
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Orange sports at local parks visiting museums attending festivals
• The Cities people commute to from Orange are Santa-Ana 5 miles away Anaheim 6 miles away Tustin 11 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Orange or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: traffic congestion near the Orange Circle. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Orange’s Earthquakes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Orange is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Orange are Santa-Ana 5 miles away Anaheim 6 miles away Tustin 11 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 45 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Orange has 0 days in a row below freezing and 14 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Orange people have an average (positive or negative) $-13000 in negative cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   600 homeless people living in Orange. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general politically mixed with conservative and progressive influences could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Orange.

Retiree & Senior Life in Orange

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can can benefit from local tax relief programs mitigating property taxes
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Grove
• Orange Senior Center offers recreational activities social events and meals for older adults

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Orange, California?

If Orange, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Orange, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!