Laguna Beach, CA (Alta Vista / Summit Ridge)

The way a neighborhood looks and feels when you walk or drive around it, from its setting, its buildings, and its flavor, can make all the difference. This neighborhood has some really cool things about the way it looks and feels as revealed by NeighborhoodScout's exclusive research. This might include anything from the housing stock to the types of households living here to how people get around.

Real Estate

Alta Vista / Summit Ridge is a neighborhood that is on the ocean, a bay, or inlet. Many times, such places have amenities that bring locals and visitors to the waterfront for recreational activities or to check out the scenery. In some densely populated areas that are less financially well-off, the neighborhood waterfront can be relatively industrial and less open to recreation. In addition to being coastal, Alta Vista / Summit Ridge is a very nautical neighborhood, meaning that it is somewhat historic, walkable, densely populated and on the water. This gives the neighborhood a very nautical feel, with some seaside and shipping feel, which some may really enjoy the sights and sounds of.

People

Of note is NeighborhoodScout's research finding that the Alta Vista / Summit Ridge neighborhood has some of the lowest rates of children living in poverty of any neighborhood in the United States. In a nation where approximately 1 in 4 children are living in poverty, the Alta Vista / Summit Ridge community truly stands out from the rest in this regard.

In addition, alta Vista / Summit Ridge has the amazing distinction of housing more same sex couples living together than 98.6% of neighborhoods in the U.S. If you are seeking such a neighborhood, NeighborhoodScout's analysis shows that this is one place that you should consider.

Also, if you are planning to retire in California, this neighborhood should be on your must-see list. For many reasons, Alta Vista / Summit Ridge may be considered a retiree's dream neighborhood. According to NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis and metrics, it's peaceful and quiet, has above average safety from crime compared to other neighborhoods in California, while also offering a diverse range of housing options. This, along with the vibrant mix of very educated seniors and other age groups who choose to live here, makes the neighborhood more retiree-friendly than 98.0% of neighborhoods in CA. If a California retirement is in your future, this neighborhood should be one of the places you visit. In addition to being an excellent choice for active retirees, this neighborhood is also a very good choice for urban sophisticates and highly educated executives.

Finally, the rate of college educated adults in the Alta Vista / Summit Ridge neighborhood is a unique characteristic of the neighborhood. 73.8% of adults here have received at least a 4-year bachelor's degree, compared to the average neighborhood in America, which has 35.7% of the adults with a bachelor's degree. The rate here is higher than NeighborhoodScout found in 95.1% of all U.S. neighborhoods.

Modes of Transportation

A unique way of commuting is simply not to. And in the Alta Vista / Summit Ridge neighborhood, analysis shows that 49.8% of the residents work from home, avoiding a commute altogether. This may not seem like a large number, but it is a higher proportion of people working from home than is found in 99.7% of the neighborhoods in the United States. One thing NeighborhoodScout's research reveals is that the wealthier and/or more isolated the neighborhood, the greater the proportion of residents who choose to work from home.

Occupations

The Alta Vista / Summit Ridge neighborhood has a higher proportion of its residents employed as executives, managers and professionals than 99.0% of the neighborhoods in America. In fact, 80.5% of the employed people here make a living as an executive, a manager, or other professional. With such a high concentration, this truly shapes the character of this neighborhood, and to a large degree defines what this neighborhood is about.