2 Communities in Mission Viejo
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Overview
MIssion Viejo is a suburban city in Southern California. With a strong residential focus and year round pleasant temperatures, it is an in-demand area for active adults. In addition, residents can enjoy shopping, golfing, and dining in their own backyards while also being able to access all the amenities of nearby major cities.
Climate & Geography
Located in 49 miles southeast of Los Angeles in Orange County, Mission Viejo experiences a warm, semi-arid climate. Residents can expect pleasant temperatures year round with dry, warm summers and mild winters with some rainfall. Like much of Southern California, Mission Viejo is subject to the Santa Ana Winds, which can bring hot inland air and occasionally spike temperatures. Snowfall is very rare, and there are approximately 283 days of sunshine each year.
Mission Viejo is one of the largest master-planned communities in the U.S. built under a single project. It is largely a commuter-based, residential and suburban city. With Interstate 5 on the southern border of the city, residents can easily travel to Los Angeles and San Diego.
Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment
Outdoor recreation is plentiful in Mission Viejo. Man-made Lake MIssion Viejo has paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and sailing available, and the Rancho Santa Margarita Lake offers a peaceful walking trail with nearby coffee shops. Residents looking to hike can visit the Oso Creek Trail or O’Neill Regional Park, with over 4,000 acres of hiking trails and camping areas.
Golfers can visit several golf clubs and country clubs, including the popular Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club and Casta Del Sol Golf Course. In addition to these outdoor activities, residents can find all their name-brand and high-end shopping at The Shops at Mission Viejo, watch monthly Movies in the Park hosted by the city, and imbibe at the Bellante Family Winery.
Cost of Living & Taxes
Mission Viejo’s cost of living is higher than both the national average and the average cost of living for California. Housing is the biggest factor, with homes generally costing nearly four times as much as the U.S. average. Transportation is another reason for the increase, whereas groceries and utilities are on par with the national average. Health care, on the other hand, is far below.
California is not considered the most tax-friendly state for retirees because, while Social Security is not taxed, other forms of retirement income are fully taxed. Property taxes are slightly below average, whereas the city’s combined sales tax of 7.75 percent is high.
Health Care
Mission Viejo is considered part of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, which ranks in the top 45 communities according to Gallup’s Well-Being Index. On the same measurements, California ranks in the top 14 states.
There are three nationally ranked hospitals within 10 miles of Mission Viejo. Mission Hospitals, Missions Viejo and Laguna Beach is within city limits and ranked by U.S. News as the No. 13 hospital in California. MemorialCare Saddleback Memorial Medical Center is only four miles away and the No. 22 hospital in the state. The Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine is also nationally ranked in Orthopedics.