Moving to Mission Viejo sometime soon? If so, we bet you’re searching for as much information as possible to back up your decision. (You can never go wrong with some extra research!) To help, CA Storage put together all the up-to-date facts just for you! Read on to discover the pros and cons of living in Mission Viejo, California!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Pros of Living in Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo, California is Highly Rated All Around!
Besides housing costs, almost everything else in Mission Viejo gets high marks! In fact, the city is one of California’s Top 10 Los Angeles Suburbs! Yep, you can find Mission Viejo at #3!
The Weather in Mission Viejo is Superb
If enjoying the great outdoors is important to you, Mission Viejo is a great choice. Our comfort index in summer is 9.3 / 10, and in winter, 8.6 / 10. Both are excellent and empower you to enjoy life outdoors all year round. The temperature here rarely drops below 41° Fahrenheit. Even better, it also rarely goes above 90° Fahrenheit. (Take that, Texas!)
Cost of Living in Mission Viejo, California is a Pro!
While housing prices in Mission Viejo, CA, are off the charts, most other costs are still reasonable. We know housing costs are a big factor, but we hope this list will help you see the big picture of Mission Viejo living. Below is a list of all the cost indices in the city. The US average is 100, so a valuable over 100 means the cost in Mission Viejo is higher than average. While a value lower than 100 means Mission Viejo has lower costs than the US average.
- Overall. 171 / 100 (very high due to housing costs)
- Groceries. 104 / 100.
- Health Care. 96 / 100.
- Utilities. 102 / 100.
- Transportation. 118 / 100.
- Miscellaneous. 105 / 100.
Public Schools get an A+ in Mission Viejo!
For anyone with children at home, you’ll be happy to know the public schools in Mission Viejo, CA are excellent. In fact, Niche gave us an A+, which is superb! Over 30 of the city’s public schools get an A or higher, including the best, Portola High School.
Low Crime Rates Living in Mission Viejo, California
One of the biggest pros of living in Mission Viejo, California, is the low violent crime rate. The city ranks at 8.6 / 100 compared to the US average of 22.7 / 100. We love a safe city and we know you will too! Property crime is slightly higher at 19.8 / 100 but still is nearly half as much as the US average of 35.4 / 100. In Mission Viejo, you can sleep easy knowing you and your family are safe and sound.
Mission Viejo is a Great Place to Raise a Family
Mission Viejo, CA, is a wonderful place to raise a family if you can afford it. With our low crime rates, excellent schools, and wonderful weather, that’s not surprising. Mission Viejo is also diverse, offers a variety of outdoor activities, and has many beautiful green spaces.
Mission Viejo, California is Genuinely Beautiful
We saved the best part of Mission Viejo for last. You will love the fact that Mission Viejo is one of California’s most beautiful cities. Many neighborhoods have beautiful, tree-lined streets. Lake Mission Viejo is also here to enjoy and don’t forget hiking along the Oso Creek Trail. If shopping and golfing are more your style, Mission Viejo has plenty of those too!
Cons of Living in Mission Viejo, California
Housing Prices are Very Expensive
We mentioned this one earlier, but the housing costs in Mission Viejo are a big con. They are outright scary! That’s because they are more than 200% higher than the average American city! The housing cost index is 316/100 and the median home price is $912,000. These are two of the highest values in the country! That makes buying a home here extremely difficult for many American families.
Long Commutes in Mission Viejo, California
Everyone’s heard about the notorious LA traffic. Well, Mission Viejo is no exception. This LA suburb has an average commute time of 30 minutes in each direction. If you commute to work every day, you can expect to spend quite a few minutes staring out your windshield. So download some good music or a new podcast and get comfortable.
There’s Very Little Seasonal Change in Mission Viejo
If you’re used to fall foliage and white Christmases, Mission Viejo will be a big adjustment. The weather here stays between 40 and 90 degrees all year-round, so you can’t expect to experience the changing season too much. The annual burst of fall color you’ll see in cities like New York, Boston, and Chicago? You won’t find that here, although you might not miss it as much with our beautiful year-round weather.
Gas Prices are Off the Charts
For folks who drive a lot, gas prices in Mission Viejo might be a problem. Typically, we’re about $2 per gallon higher than most other major cities. For example, the average price of a gallon of gas in Mission Viejo is about $6. In New York City, they’re about $4.60 per gallon, while in Atlanta, Georgia, you’ll pay about $4 per gallon. If you commute into Los Angeles, Mission Viejo’s gas prices will be a bit hard to swallow.
Our Conclusion of the Pros and Cons of Living in Mission Viejo, California
After reading the pros and cons of living in Mission Viejo, California, we think you’ll agree it’s a fabulous city! CA Storage has storage units in Mission Viejo, CA, that are clean, safe, and secure. You can rest easy knowing your things will be well protected when stored with us!
Before arriving, many folks moving here reserve a storage unit in Mission Viejo, CA. From what we’ve seen, there are two reasons why. The first is that it gives them more time to search for their new home and neighborhood. The second is that they can buy a smaller home by renting a storage unit and save money. (We think both are great reasons to rent with us!)
If you have questions about renting a storage unit in Mission Viejo, CA, please chat with us online. You can also visit one of our two Mission Viejo, CA self-storage locations we offer and meet the onsite manager. They can answer all your questions and advise you on which storage unit best suits your specific needs.
Until then, we wish you the best of luck moving to our wonderful, attractive, and safe city. Once you settle in, we’re sure you’ll wonder why you didn’t move to Mission Viejo, CA, much sooner!
One con you left out is being forced to pay for Lake Mission Viejo which is now $300.00 a year for something I never asked for, never wanted and will never use.