Irvine, CA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Irvine, CA: What You Need to Know

Irvine, located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego in Southern California, is one of America’s largest and most successful planned urban communities.

The Local History

The Gabrielino Tribe lived in the area until Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish explorer, entered the San Joaquin Valley in 1769. Control over the area was held by Spain, then Mexico, and finally the United States, which annexed California in 1848. By then, huge tracts of land had been divided into ranches owned mostly by Mexicans. In 1851, the U.S. required landholders to revalidate the titles to their ranches, which they’d begun selling. James Irvine eventually acquired 110,000 acres in 1878, and later on formed The Irvine Company. In 1959, the company granted the University of California (UC) 1,000 acres for a new campus. The state bought additional 500 acres. Irvine was created as a community for 50,000 people initially. It was incorporated as a city in 1971. Today, it has a population of 287,401. 

Local Job Opportunities

Irvine boasts of a highly educated and skilled workforce, over 200,000 jobs, and more than 24,000 businesses driving the local economy. Among the city’s top employers: UC Irvine (21,800 employees), Irvine Unified School District (2,839 employees), Blizzard Entertainment Inc. (2,804 employees), and Broadcom (2,604 employees).

The Cost of Living in Irvine

Irvine’s scenic environment, great weather, excellent schools, and economic opportunities don’t come cheap. Its cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 42.1%, 3.3%, and 36.6% higher than the national average respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $2,259; the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Orange County (where Irvine is located) is $2,349. California’s progressive tax system levies 1% to 13.3% in state income tax. The state’s sales tax ranges from 7.25% to 10.50%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Locals praise the city’s well-maintained infrastructure, safety, cleanliness, and family-friendly community. A little over half of all residents in Irvine rent. In the suburbs, 

Ladera Ranch and Aliso Viejo are within commuting distance of Irvine, and they both have highly rated public schools. Residents call Aliso Viejo a gem for its great amenities and vibrant community life. It has a large number of renters.

Schools and Higher Education

The city was established primarily to support UC Irvine by providing residential, recreational, and commercial infrastructure. UC Irvine (36,032 students) offers more than 80 majors, and it has produced three Nobel laureates. There are 62 other colleges and universities within 50 miles of Irvine. The city’s Unified School District has 41 public schools and an enrolment of 34,581 students. The district has an average math proficiency score of 74%, well above the California average of 38%, and a reading proficiency score of 77% compared with the 50% state average.