The city and suburb of Aliso Viejo, CA can be found about 52 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Aliso Viejo is bordered by Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Dana Point, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, and San Juan Capistrano.
Once owned by the Moulton family of Moulton Ranch, Aliso Viejo began as a 6,600-acre planned community. The land was given to Juan Avila in 1842 by the Mexican government as various parts of the original ranch were sold. The master-planned community of Aliso Viejo was designed to hold more than 20,000 homes and a population of about 50,000 people.
The name Aliso Viejo is Spanish for “Old Alder”, which is a flowering plant. The city of Aliso Viejo has a motto of “Live, Work, Learn, Shop and Play”.
Aliso Viejo is known for being the location of a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course that was designed by the famous golfer, Jack Nicklaus.
Some of the most notable people who have lived in Aliso Viejo include professional poker player Farzad Bonyadi, NHL hockey player Royce Lewis, Olympic gold medalists McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross, champion figure skater Ashley Wagner, and actress Alicia Leigh Willis.
Table of Contents
1. People Living in Aliso Viejo, CA – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Aliso Viejo? With nearly 3,000 new residents moving to Aliso Viejo in the last decade, the city has officially surpassed its planned goal of over 50,000 people. The Aliso Viejo population is 50,663 locals with a median age of 38 years old.
Aliso Viejo demographics show the area is also growing in diversity with about 59% Caucasian, 18% Hispanic or Latino, 15% Asian, and 2% Black or African American. The gender ratio in Aliso Viejo is 52% female and 48% male, a close split. The median household income in Aliso Viejo is $112,689, which is close to twice the national average and making this an affluent city.
Aliso Viejo can be found near the south-central part of Orange County and covers an area of 6.9 square miles. Zip codes in Aliso Viejo include 92637, 92651, 92653, 92656, and 92677. Phone numbers in Aliso Viejo usually have a 949 area code.
Among the top 5 safest cities in California, the city of Aliso Viejo’s crime rate is 65% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate in Aliso Viejo is even better at 86% lower than the US average. People relocating to Aliso Viejo only have a 1 in 114 probability of becoming a victim of crime when living there. Aliso Viejo is a very safe place to live!
2. Cost of Living in Aliso Viejo, CA
The average cost of living in Aliso Viejo is 57% higher than the national average and about 7% higher than the California state average. While the Aliso Viejo real estate market and healthcare are more expensive than California numbers, people living in the city pay lower prices for groceries, utilities, and transportation.
How much does it cost to live in Aliso Viejo, CA? Recent statistics from Numbeo, help to show some of the average expenses in Aliso Viejo:
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant $19.00
- McDonald’s Burger Meal $8.00
- Milk (regular 1 gallon) $4.00
- Eggs (1 Dozen) $2.50
- Bread (1 loaf) $3.00
- Chicken Fillets (1 lb) $4.40
- Domestic Beer (1 pint) $6.25
- Average Cost of Gasoline (per gallon) $3.60
- Movie Ticket (1st run) $8.00
- Average Cost of Utilities (per month) $120.00
The homeownership rate in Aliso Viejo is 60.5%. With a fairly competitive real estate market, Aliso Viejo, CA homes for sale range from small properties to large, expensive houses. The average price of a home in Aliso Viejo is $737,000. Property tax rates in Aliso Viejo are 0.690%, which equals an average annual amount of $5,058.
The remaining 40% of people living in Aliso Viejo rent houses and apartments in the city. The average price of rent in Aliso Viejo is $2,328 per month, an amount that has increased by about 4% since the previous year.
3. Aliso Viejo Neighborhoods
Where should you live in Aliso Viejo? As one of the safest cities across the entire state of California, there are plenty of great Aliso Viejo neighborhoods to choose between. Some of the top communities in Aliso Viejo are:
- Aliso Creek
- Capobella
- Barcelona Resort
- Enterprise
- Villa Solana
- Pacific Park
As you search for convenient shopping in Aliso Viejo, you’ll find popular places like Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Dollar Tree, Aliso Viejo Town Center, Ralph’s, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and the Plaza de la Paz Shopping Center.
The Aliso Viejo parks and recreation department manages many neighborhood amenities.
4. Aliso Viejo, CA Weather
The dry-summer subtropical or Mediterranean climate in Aliso Viejo brings envious weather to the area for most of the year. Local Aliso Viejo weather has dry, mild summers and cool, comfortable winters.
The average temperature in Aliso Viejo during the summer is between the upper 50s at night and upper 70s during the day. Winters cool down a little bit to the low 40s at night and the mid-60s in the daytime. The weather in Aliso Viejo gets about 14 inches of rain per year.
5. Things to Do in Aliso Viejo
Many people like to travel from Aliso Viejo to Laguna Beach about 8 miles away to enjoy the Pacific coast and beach scene. There are also plenty of fun things to do in Aliso Viejo without having to leave the city.
Aliso Viejo Country Club
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One of the top Aliso Viejo attractions is the world-famous Aliso Viejo Country Club golf course, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus. The 18-hole course features beautiful scenery along with other amenities at the clubhouse such as a large fitness gym and a restaurant.
Aliso Viejo Country Club, 33 Santa Barbara Dr, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656Â (949) 598-9200
Ridgecrest Park
Among the top things to do in Aliso Viejo, the local Ridgecrest Park is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities. The public park has multiple tennis courts and other sports fields for various uses. As one of the most popular points of interest in Aliso Viejo, residents also have access to the picnic area and a children’s playground.
Ridgecrest Park, Eastwing & Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656Â (949) 243-7750
Additional Aliso Viejo Attractions
- Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 28373 Alicia Pkwy, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
- Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
- Aliso Creek Trail, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
6. Aliso Viejo Restaurants
People residing in Aliso Viejo love having so many great places to eat nearby with top-rated restaurants all over the area.
OPAH Seafood Grill
For amazing seafood dishes, don’t miss out on a visit to the OPAH Seafood Grill. Ranked as one of the top restaurants in Aliso Viejo, their menu includes a great selection of mussels, sandwiches, burgers, fish n chips, salads, soups, and beyond.
OPAH Seafood Grill, 26851 Aliso Creek Rd, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656Â (949) 360-8822
Urban Plates
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One of Aliso Viejo’s best places to eat is Urban Plates, which is a popular destination for “clean, craveable food”. Whether you want to dine-in or sit on their outdoor patio, you can feast upon your meal choice between protein bowls, ahi tuna, steaks, sandwiches, and many more options.
Urban Plates, 26661 Aliso Creek Rd B, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656Â (949) 424-6160
7. Jobs in Aliso Viejo
When it comes to finding Aliso Viejo jobs, many great employers offer career opportunities nearby. With top-rated companies all over town, the best places to work in Aliso Viejo include:
- UST Global
- Covenant Care
- Microsemi (Microchip)
- USWeb
- QLogic
- Metagenics
The average salary in Aliso Viejo is $80,000 per year. There is a 9.3% state income tax rate in Aliso Viejo. The Aliso Viejo unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Local jobs in Aliso Viejo can be found using resources like Indeed.
8. Aliso Viejo Schools
Making up 27% of the city population, about 13,679 children between the ages of 0 and 18 years old are living in Aliso Viejo. Many people feel Aliso Viejo is an excellent place for families to live as one of California’s safest suburbs.
Local Aliso Viejo schools are part of the larger Capistrano Unified School District. Some of the top schools in Aliso Viejo are:
- Don Juan Avila Elementary School
- Canyon Vista Elementary School
- Don Juan Avila Middle School
- Aliso Viejo Middle School
- Aliso Niguel High School
Aliso Viejo is home to the Soka University of America, which offers programs in humanities, environmental studies, life sciences, international studies, and more. The well-known University of California–Irvine campus is also only about 10.5 miles away from Aliso Viejo.
All students have free access to the Aliso Viejo Library.
Living in Aliso Viejo Pros & Cons
- Pro: Enjoy residing in one of the 5 safest cities in the entire state of California.
- Pro: Aliso Viejo is a great place to raise a family or to retire.
- Con: Some may feel the higher cost of living in Aliso Viejo isn’t an option for their budget.
Moving to Aliso Viejo, CA
It’s easy to see why residents love living in Aliso Viejo and all the perks that come with it. If you’re considering relocating to Aliso Viejo, the team at SafeWay Moving is the best choice for the transition. Get in touch with our professional Aliso Viejo movers by giving us a call today at (949) 639-0330 or fill out the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!