Overview
Laguna Woods is a residential city in Southern California. With easy access to pristine beaches and major metro areas like Los Angeles and Irvine, it is a popular destination for retirees. In addition, active adults love the year-round warmth, nearby shopping, and abundant hiking opportunities.
Climate & Geography
Laguna Woods experiences a warm Mediterranean climate characterized by warm to hot summers and mild winters. Nearby water helps moderate temperatures and prevent extremes. Residents can expect less than average rain, no snow, and 276 sunny days per year.
Laguna Woods is located in a transitional zone of Orange County between the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains to the east and the flat, low-lying beaches of the coastal plain to the west. The terrain in Laguna Woods is mostly flat with a few rolling hills.
Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment
There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. Willow Staging Area to the southwest and Pacific Ridge Trailhead are popular sites for hiking. Residents of Laguna Woods are also just 20 minutes from the 3.2 miles of beaches at Crystal Cove State Park.
For nearby shopping, residents can head to downtown Laguna Beach, which features both designer and local boutiques, gourmet restaurants with ocean views, museums, and art galleries. Nearby Irvine boasts the Irvine Spectrum Center, a large shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with a movie theater.
For even more entertainment and shopping, residents can head an hour to Los Angeles.
Cost of Living & Taxes
The cost of living in Laguna Woods is above the national average, but it is below the state average. Compared to the rest of California, housing is more affordable in Laguna Woods.
While Social Security benefits are not taxed in California, income from other retirement plans like IRAs, 401(k)s, and private and public pensions are fully taxed. Property taxes are below average with an available homestead exemption, but sales taxes are higher than average.
Health Care
The Los Angeles metro area ranks in the top 45 communities on Gallup's Well-Being Index.
Laguna Woods residents have easy access to high-quality healthcare. MemorialCare Saddleback Memorial Center and Mission Hospitals-Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach are both nationally ranked by U.S. News and are less than five miles away.