What to Know Before Moving to Mission Viejo

Economy

Initially, Mission Viejo was a commuter city but over time, as businesses flourished, the city has developed a strong economy of its own. Professional, scientific, and technical services; health care and social assistance; retail trade; light manufacturing; and educational services are the leading industrial sectors. The top five employers are Mission Hospital, Saddleback College, Capistrano Unified School District, and retailers Nordstrom and Macy’s. Mission Viejo residents enjoy a household income that’s almost twice that of the national average. 

Mission Viejo Education

Mission Viejo has always been known for its excellent public schools. Two districts, Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Unified School District, serve students among 23 elementary, middle, and high schools. See the greatschools.org ratings here. Saddleback College is a large two-year community college where K-12 students enrolled in Mission Viejo schools may apply for concurrent enrollment in certain classes at Saddleback College. 

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living in Mission Viejo is about 20% higher than California overall. Housing expenses are definitely the highest of all the living costs – you’ll pay about three times the national median for housing in Mission Viejo. However, utilities and grocery costs are very close to the national average and health care will cost about 4% less than the national average.

Getting Around in Mission Viejo

Since Mission Viejo was originally planned as a commuter city, it largely remains a car-dependent community. However, some public transportation is available through the Orange County Transportation Authority which operates bus routes throughout the city, and Metrolink commuter rail. Metrolink provides service to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. The MV Shuttle operates smaller compressed natural gas vehicles that run from the Metrolink train station to many popular locations around the city at no charge. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner runs past Mission Viejo and stops at stations in nearby San Juan Capistrano and Irvine. 

Some of the areas of the city that are fairly walkable include Evergreen Ridge, Pinecrest, and the area around the Vista del Lago Apartments. The overall walk score in Mission Viejo is 68 and the bike score is 70. Walkscore.com doesn’t provide a transit score.

Mission Viejo’s Climate

Not only is Mission Viejo considered one of the most liveable cities in California, but it’s also considered one of the “Top 10 Cities to Beat the Heat” and one of the “Most Comfortable Summer Cities.” Due to the great climate, bestplaces.net awards Mission Viejo with a 9/10 comfort index. You’ll never see any snow and very little rain – only about 14″ falls annually. The average high in July is 86 °F and it cools down to an average of 62 °F at night. January is the coolest month with an average high of 65 °F and a low of 44 °F.