What to Know Before Moving to Irvine

Neighborhoods

Unlike many other California cities that grew without a plan due to population pressures, Irvine was specifically developed as a master-planned city that allows for carefully phased long-term growth. Development started in the 1960s with a village concept. Each village has its own shopping complex, schools, and parks with a range of home types that vary from single-family to condos and single-level to multi-story townhomes. With a total of 33 neighborhoods, you can find just the right type of home to fit your stage in life. The master plan allows for plentiful greenspace and environmental conservation with 16,000 acres of open preserved space in addition to 40 neighborhood parks and 20 community parks. Irvine’s top five neighborhoods are Shady Canyon, West Park, Turtle Rock, Woodbridge, and Northwood Point. 

Demographics

Irvine residents belong to a range of ethnic groups. The four largest groups include 49% White, 41% Asian, 10% Hispanic, and 2% African American. About 68% of Irvine residents are college graduates. The population grew by 80% over the past 20 years and currently, Irvine has about 257,000 residents. 

Top Employers

The master plan also allowed for the support of economic growth through key business centers and professional office buildings. More than any other US city, Irvine has more jobs per resident with a job-to-population ratio of 94.8%. Education is the top employment sector in Irvine. The University of California Irvine employs almost 22,000 people. The Irvine Unified School District, Edwards Lifescience Corporation, and Blizzard Entertainment Inc each have about 3,000 employees. Future job growth is forecasted to increase by 40% over the next ten years – a decent jump over the predicted national average growth of 34%.

Irvine Cost of Living

It’s pricey to live in Irvine. Overall, the cost of living is about 87% higher than the national average. One reason the cost of living is so high is that housing costs are over three times the national average. The good news is that in Irvine, health care and utility costs are below average. 

Education in Irvine

From kindergarten through post-secondary graduate programs, Irvine schools offer a huge range of educational options. Irvine Unified School District serves most of Irvine while the Tustin Unified School District serves students who live in the northern and western areas of the city. Both districts have a reputation for excellence. Irvine students are consistent Orange County SAT test score leaders and with a high school graduation rate of 97%, over 90% of Irvine’s high school graduates go on to attend college. 

The University of California Irvine is one of the country’s leading research universities. The city is also home to Brandman University, Concordia University, and the California State University Fullerton-Irvine Campus. Additionally, Pepperdine, Stanbridge, USC, and the University of La Verne have campuses in Irvine. Santiago Canyon, Orange Coast, and Irvine Valley Community Colleges offer classes in a variety of disciplines.