Are you considering moving to California? Perhaps you are looking for a new place to call home within the sunny state? Whatever the case, CA has more to offer than Los Angeles and San Francisco. In fact, there are few places better than Orange County, which is conveniently located one hour away from the famed City of Angels. You can find everything here, and even if something is missing, you can get to it after a short drive. Are you in the mood for a day at the beach? No problem. Have you woken up with an idea to go hiking in the mountains? There are some fantastic hiking trails. Do you have kids and wish to spend a fun day with them? OC is full of incredible kid-friendly attractions. These and so many more are reasons why Orange County is a great place to live.

Glorious weather and excellent quality of life have been attracting newcomers from all over the globe to this vibrant area. As a result, Orange County boasts a rich culture and incredible food. Just a couple of hours away is Big Bear Lake, where you can actually enjoy some winter activities in the snow. Palm Springs is also a few hours’ drive away as well as the amazing Joshua Tree National Park.

Are you still unsure whether Orange County is a great place to live? There is more to persuade you. Below, you will find an overview of everything that makes life in OC wonderful.

1. Let’s start with the obvious – oranges

Orange Country didn’t get its name for no good reason. Some delicious oranges grow here, and you can see lines of orange trees in many neighborhoods. These beautiful trees add the vibrancy of color to this place. Just seeing that makes many locals move to some of these neighborhoods. That’s one reason why local moves are nothing unusual here. Everyone wants to get out in the street and feel immediately refreshed and energized after relishing such a beautiful sight. And once you decide to move, you can easily find help in your neighborhood. As we said, you can find everything in Orange County, and reliable moving companies are no exception.

2. Moving on to more serious topics – safety

Orange County is one of the safest places in California, with several cities ranking among the top 20 safest cities in the state. As many as five OC cities ranked among the top ten safest cities in CA:

• Irvine – the absolute winner that ranked second
• Rancho Santa Margarita – right after the previous entry, it assumed the third place
• Yorba Linda – got the fourth place
• Laguna Niguel – ranked number nine
• Aliso Viejo – following the last entry, this city was ranked number ten

3. Excellent educational system is one of the reasons why Orange County is a great place to live

Orange County has it all and at an exceptionally high level, from preschool facilities to universities. You can choose between both private and public institutions. To give you some examples, UC Irvine is among the top 50 colleges in the entire country with fantastic science, medicine, and arts programs. Chapman University is also considered one of the best private universities in the West. This university focuses on law, business, film, and art programs.

4. Excellent healthcare

Safety, school system, and healthcare are the top three factors families consider when choosing where to live. Orange County ranks very well in all three. You can find all the healthcare services you could need here.

What is more, this county is trying its best to battle homelessness and offers help to the homeless through the Office of Care Coordination. This office cooperates with various organizations in the cities and communities and coordinates private and public resources to aid the homeless in Orange County.

5. Orange County is a great place to live thanks to its location

Feeling bored in Orange County is difficult. Still, if you want a change of scenery, you can sit in your car and drive to some fantastic places. We have already mentioned that LA is practically just around the corner. You will quickly arrive in San Diego if you drive to the south. Go to the east, and you will get to Riverside. It truly is a prime location, and as such, it comes with one downside – Orange County is one of the most expensive counties in the Sunny State. But job opportunities are great, so it’s nothing much to worry about.

6. Limitless opportunities for outdoor activities

It would be a shame not to take full advantage of the fantastic weather and miss out on some of the wonderful outdoor activities. In California, there are so many options that your greatest challenge will be choosing what to do next weekend:

• Camping
• Hiking
• Biking (both on the road and mountain biking)
• Kayaking
• Surfing
• Skiing (yes, you read that right)

Are you into fitness? You have outdoor options all year round! Do you like animals? There is a zoo, but there is also something fascinating – whale watching.

7. Superb shopping options

Admittedly, LA wins in this respect. Still, Orange County offers some fantastic shopping options. If you are in the mood to treat yourself to something fancy, you can go to one of the high-end malls. For example, South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island are excellent options. If you are feeling thrifty, there are many outlet centers. Consider visiting The Outlets at San Clemente. And who doesn’t like Target?

Final words on the reasons why Orange County is a great place to live

According to Niche, this area ranks excellently in practically all aspects:

• Education
• Family-friendliness
• Diversity
• Health and fitness
• Outdoor activities
• Nightlife

In addition, Orange County is a bit less populated than other areas. It undoubtedly makes life here easier. The cost of living is essentially the only downside, but it is more than worth it considering what you get for it.

Overall, Orange County is a great place to live if you are a young family looking for a safe neighborhood with outstanding public schools and family-friendly amenities. If you are a student considering studying here, educational and fun-time opportunities are plentiful. And if you are an active type and relish the sunshine, well, there are few better places than OC.