Nestled in the San Joaquin Hills of Orange County, California, is the affluent, beautiful city of Laguna Niguel — a bedroom community for those who want to work in nearby cities such as Irvine and Santa Ana. Known for its mild weather, low crime rate and extensive network of trails and parks, Laguna Niguel makes the perfect community to set down some roots.
If you are thinking of moving here, there are some things you should know first.
About Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel isn’t all that old. It was basically a field of orchards and grounds for sheep ranching till 1959 when it was purchased by a real estate company called Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and the Paine Webber investment firm. Sitting on nearly 15 square miles of land, Laguna Niguel is a master-planned community designed as a commuter town from the get-go.
One big benefit of cultivating and growing this community was its immense coverage of green space – about a third of the total land in fact. Those parks and trails are still here to this day. In 1965, the oceanfront land was purchased by George Capron, professional baseball player. The community was finally incorporated in 1989.
Population and Demographics
Laguna Niguel, home to 65,000, is a diverse community within Orange County. The racial demographics are: 70 percent white, 17 percent Hispanic, two percent Black or African American, nine percent Asian, and four percent other races. The ratio of men to women is 45 percent and 55 percent respectively.
Nearly 60 percent of the people living here are married, with nearly 30 percent of households having school-aged children.
The average household income in Laguna Niguel is $152,000, with median rental costs of $2,263 a month. The median house value is $827,000. The crime rate is about 60 percent lower than the national average.
Cost of Living
It’s expensive to live in Laguna Niguel, with the cost of living being 85 percent higher than the national average. The median listing home price is $1.3M, with a strong and competitive real estate market, according to Realtor.com. Around 30 percent of people living here own their homes. The rest rent. Rental rates are, on average, $900 more expensive than the state average.
Neighborhoods
The top neighborhoods in Laguna Niguel include:
- Monarch Point
- Mountain View
- Beacon Hill
- Mesa Vista
- San Joaquin Hills
For great views of the city, ocean, and canyon, research Beacon Hill or Monarch Point. If you like sprawling bungalows, go for Mountain View. If you are retired, you will want to check out Mesa Vista. If you want a guard-gated community with lots of private amenities, try the San Joaquin Hills area. No matter which neighborhood you choose, though, Laguna Niguel features many safe, friendly, meticulously maintained communities.
Weather
As with the rest of Southern California, the weather here is mild all year round. Average temperatures fall between 70 and 85°F., with the most pleasant months being May, June, and October. The hottest month is July, with an average temp of 85.3°F. Only about 14 inches of rain fall here a year, and with 273 days of sunshine annually, you can’t go wrong. It never snows here, and even in winter, temps only get as low as about 44°F — usually in January.
Things to Do
With more than a third of the space here containing parklands or trails, you will love Laguna Niguel if you are a nature lover. There are 31 city parks and four county parks, with just a 20-minute drive to the beach from anywhere in the city.
This is a 22-acre space where you can enjoy fishing and boating on Laguna Niguel Lake, as well as hike or bike the many trails around here. There are picnic areas, horseshoe pits, tennis and volleyball courts, and more.
This 18-hole golf club boasts incredible mountain and ocean views. Enroll your kid in the junior golf program here to get them involved early in the game.
Restaurants
If you love food, you’ll love the many diverse restaurants in Laguna Niguel. From fine dining to casual fare, you are sure to find a tasty spot to call your own, from the Tastes of Greece to the Plumeria Cafe by Stacks Pancake House.
Jobs
Most of the residents here are well-educated, with more than half of the population having received a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Top industries include healthcare, scientific, technical services, and retail. About 19 percent of the workforce hold management positions.
Most residents drive to work on their own, with about seven percent choosing to carpool. The average commute time is approximately 25 minutes, right on par with the national average. Twelve percent of people work from home.
Schools
There are two public school systems in place to serve all of Laguna Niguel: Capistrano Unified School District, and Orange County Department of Education School District. With more than 30 private schools to choose from, your children will likely find their fit right away.
The top-rated schools include John Malcom Elementary School, Laguna Niguel Elementary School, Community Roots Academy, Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts, and Moulton Elementary School.
While the student to teacher ratio is slightly higher than national and state averages, students here do well on their test scores, consistently ranking 15 percent higher than the national average.
To Recap: Living in Laguna Niguel
In a nutshell, you can expect the following if you move here:
- Beautiful weather all year
- Top-rated school system
- Low crime rates
- High cost of living
- High salaries
- Good jobs
- Many things to do
- Lots of parks and trails
- Diversity
Contact Best Fit Movers
So, if you’re planning on moving to Laguna Niguel, you need to work with the best professional moving company in the area. We have vast experience moving homes and businesses throughout Laguna Niguel and surrounding areas. Get in touch with us for a free quote today at 858-285-4534.
