Contrary to the typical image of standstill Los Angeles freeways and high-density residential areas, Laguna Niguel is widely-recognized by locals for its extensive parks and hiking trails. Orange County is home to the massive, 22,000 acre South Coast Wilderness, much of which is located in Laguna Niguel and the surrounding San Joaquin Hills. The city contains 80-miles of hiking trails, most of which possess unbelievable views of Laguna Niguel’s unique landscape to the east and Orange County’s beautiful coastline to the west. Laguna Niguel is about more than just the beautiful scenery. Highly regarded schools, unbeatable weather, and reasonable home prices make this great city an ideal place to live.
Places to see in Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Regional Park – Possibly the most popular park in the city, Laguna Niguel Regional Park truly encompasses what makes the town so desirable. The park is home to Laguna Niguel Lake which is fully stocked during fishing season and is consistently packed with boaters. Other amenities offered by the park include bike trails, picnic shelters, an amphitheater, horseshoe pits, and volleyball courts.
Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park – Making up 4,500 acres of the South Coast Wilderness is the Aliso & Wood Canyons Park. The park receives tens of thousands of visitors each year who can take in the beautiful Southern California weather while exploring the caves and springs or while hiking, biking, and riding horses on the numerous trails.
Skateboard and Soccer Park – Yet another park to add to the impressive list is one of OC’s largest skate parks. The park features over 20,000 square feet of concrete and contains areas for bikers and skateboarders of all ages and skill levels. Group and private lessons are available, as well as birthday party packages. The park also is home to a turf soccer field which hosts leagues and pick up games throughout the year.
Popular Local Restaurants
Jizake Sushi Restaurant – Maki/Japanese Cuisine
Sambuca Italian Bistro – Classic Italian Cuisine
Raya Restaurant – Latin Coastal Cuisine
Big Fish Little Fish Poke – Seafood/Hawaiian Cuisine
Nearby Schools
Laguna Niguel Elementary School
Hidden Hills Elementary School
Niguel Hills Middle School
Aliso Viejo Middle School
Aliso Niguel High School
Dana Hills High School
Full List of Schools in Capistrano Unified School District can be Found Here
Laguna Niguel Real Estate Market: The median home value in Laguna Niguel is approximately $777,700 (as of November 2016), with a price per square foot of approximately $411. This is reasonably higher than the average price per square foot of $389 for the rest of the Long Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metro area. The current housing market in Laguna Niguel is cold after experiencing very little rise the past year. Since 2015, home values have risen just 2.0% and movement is expected to plateau even more in the next year with a forecasted rise of just 0.1% before October of 2017.
Laguna Niguel Rental Market: The average rent in Laguna Niguel of $2,995 which is marginally higher than the average rent of $2,900 for the rest of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Metro area.
Demographics and More
Zip Codes: 92607, 92677
Population: Laguna Niguel has a population of 62,979 as of the last available census. The median age of residents is 42.8 years old. 45.6% of residents are male while 54.4% of residents are female.
Climate: Laguna Niguel sits on the coast in southern Orange County. The city boasting a very pleasant climate with very little change in temperature throughout the year. The coastal location causes warmer winter temperatures and cooler summer temperatures than inland cities. Temperatures rarely climb above 80 and below 40 degrees throughout the year. Only five months out of the year receive more than 1.00 inch of rainfall.
Crime: The overall crime rate in Laguna Niguel is 61% lower than the national average, and safer than approximately 94% of the cities in California. Although the neighborhood is one of the safest in the state, safety has become a matter of discussion in the city as the number of crimes has increased by 16% from the previous year.
Demographics:
77.2% Caucasian
8.9% Asian
2.4% African American
11.4% Other
Incorporated Date: December 1, 1989