Are you considering relocating to California as a single person or with your family? Irvine should be on your shortlist of places to consider. There are lots of reasons for that, including its safety. So, how safe is Irvine, California?
Irvine is very safe. With over 300,000 people, it has been the safest city of its size for 16 consecutive years. The crime rate is 34% below US levels, with the chance of being a crime victim here limited to 1 in 65. Irvine is safer than 66% of cities in the country and an amazing place to live.
Due to its safety metrics and other qualities, Irvine is one of the US’s best cities to live in. But the cost of living can prove challenging for many people. Here, we discuss whether Irvine is a safe city.
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Safety in Irvine
Safety is one of the most important considerations when considering living in a place. It’s usually non-negotiable for many people, and there’s a good reason for that. Everyone wants to live where they don’t have to worry about their protection. This is understandable given the amount of time people spend within their community.
When determining how safe a place is, there are lots of variables involved. But the best indicator is the crime rate in the area. Using these metrics, Irvine is one of the safest cities in the country. On AreaVibes, it has a total crime rate that’s 34% below the national average. Violent crimes are very low here at 87% below the national average, while property crime is 34% lower. The odds of becoming a crime victim in Irvine is 1 in 65, with the city safer than 66% of cities in the US.
A closer look at violent crime statistics in the city shows that the rate of assault is 22.2 per 100,000 people compared to 287.2 at the national level. Murder is 0.3, far below 6.1 nationally. Rape is 12.1, and robbery is 16.5. All of which are significantly lower than the national average.
The same thing applies to property crime. The burglary rate per 100,000 people in Irvine is 278.7, theft is 1,123, and motor vehicle theft is 96.9. At the national level, the same crimes have rates of 500.1, 2,042.8, and 284.
When you compare numbers, you’ll see that Irvine is one of the safest places to live in the US and California. Unsurprisingly, it has won the title of the safest city in America for 16 consecutive years. This is based on data from 18,000 jurisdictions through the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.
The crime rate has decreased for several years, even as the city’s population continues to increase. Although the number of police officers per capita has declined over time, the safety in the city hasn’t. In fact, it has improved. Many people attribute this to the high population of educated and high-income residents in the city.
Is it Advisable to Live in Irvine?
Suppose you’re wondering whether you should move to Irvine. The answer is a yes. The city offers a good quality of life for every resident. According to WalletHub, it’s the third best city to raise a family in the US. This ranking used 48 metrics, including healthcare, cost of housing, quality of schools, and recreational activities available.
Irvine is Orange County, one of the best areas in California. The famed California weather is in full glory here, with moderate temperatures. This makes it a good place to spend time outdoors and enjoy the fun stuff. It’s also a very diverse city, with almost 40% of the residents here being foreign-born. This proves that it doesn’t necessarily lead to higher crimes.
Beyond that, the economy of the city is great. With a population of over 300,000, Irvine has a very strong economy. The major employers of labor in the city are high paying. So it’s not surprising that the median household income here is $108,318.
Despite that, the cost of living in the city is quite high. The cost of living is 78% above the national average and 38% higher than the California average. Housing is mostly responsible for this. Homes and rents in the city cost more than double the national average. This is why it has a 12.6% poverty rate despite the high median income.
Based on the metrics, the city is the best for health and safety, 17 for recreational activities, and 3 for childcare and education. However, it ranks 57 for affordability. So, if you’re looking for a safe city in California and don’t mind the costs, you should move to Irvine.
Safest Neighborhoods in Irvine
Irvine is a great place because there are no bad neighborhoods per se in the city. But some parts of the city are considered nicer than others. Places to check out here include:
- Lambert Ranch
- Shady Canyon
- Woodbury
- Oak Creek
- University Park
- Northwood
- Woodbridge
What to do in Irvine
If you decide to live in Irvine, there are many ways to keep yourself occupied and have a great time. You can visit several of the great places in the city and engross yourself in all kinds of activities. Places to visit include:
- Orange County Great Park
- Pretend City Children’s Museum
- IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
- Irvine Spectrum Center
- Tanaka Farms
- Irvine Museum
- University of California Irvine Arboretum
- William R. Mason Regional Park
- Irvine Barclay Theater
- Irvine Historical Museum
- UC Irvine Athletics
- Bommer Canyon
- Irvine Regional Park
- Oak Creek Golf Club
- Turtle Rock Viewpoint
- Boomers! Irvine
- Irvine Improv Comedy Club
- Marconi Automotive Museum
Irvine offers a plethora of fun places to visit. Most of these places are great for families and any group. If you decide to go alone too, you can still have fun in many of the areas. Given the great weather in the city, it’s a nice city to enjoy all the outdoor activities. There are also a few festivals in the city that you can attend, and the restaurants are top-notch.
In Conclusion
Irvine is one of the safest cities in America. The crime rates are very low, and most residents confirm that they feel safe. It’s so safe that finding a particularly bad neighborhood in the city will be difficult. Some are just nicer than others. So, if you’re looking for a place to live in California, consider Irvine.
