Los Angeles neighborhood guide
El Camino Real
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Rent in El Camino Real
Rent control: Irvinehas no local rent-stabilization ordinance we track, so California's statewide cap (AB 1482) is the main protection. It limits annual increases on most buildings at least 15 years old, with exemptions. Verify a building's status before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How El Camino Real scores for you
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El Camino Real is a planned village within Irvine, designed as a mixed-use community with a strong emphasis on walkable streets and nearby amenities. The village draws residents seeking suburban convenience with access to dining, shopping, and services without sacrificing livability. Its master-planned layout puts parks, schools, and retail within close reach.
As a newer development, El Camino Real reflects modern planning principles that prioritize pedestrian access and community gathering spaces. The village sits in the broader Orange County landscape, where car ownership remains standard despite walkable corridors. You'll find the environment more open and spacious than older urban neighborhoods, with room to breathe and room to park.
Living here
Day-to-day life centers around the village's retail and dining core, where you can handle many errands on foot. Within a short walk you'll find about 17 restaurants, 3 coffee shops, 2 grocery stores, and 2 gyms. Parks like Willows Park and Orchard Park offer green space for outdoor activities, though tree cover is limited at about 10 percent, giving the streets a mostly open feel.
A car is the practical default here, especially for longer trips or off-village destinations. El Camino Real ranks 314th of 319 neighborhoods regionally for transit access, and there is no Metro rail nearby. Traffic can be heavy along major corridors (ranking 255th of 317 for traffic exposure), so timing commutes and routes matters. The moderate air quality (60th percentile for diesel PM) is typical for Orange County but worth noting if you're sensitive to vehicle emissions.
Who it's for
El Camino Real suits renters who want planned-community convenience and don't rely on public transit. If you work in Orange County or are car-comfortable, and value walkable shopping and dining over urban density, this village delivers a comfortable suburban lifestyle. It's less ideal for anyone depending on transit or seeking the energy of a walkable urban neighborhood.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
Traffic exposure: high traffic corridor exposure.
This area is near major traffic corridors, linked to higher noise levels, diesel PM, and reduced street-level comfort.
Tree cover: limited tree cover, mostly open streetscape.
Less canopy means more heat exposure and less visual greenery on daily walks. LA County median is around 14% canopy coverage.
Walkability: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Who lives in El Camino Real
Population
13,894
Renters
28%
of households rent
Median age
45
Median income
$134k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in El Camino Real
5 public schools sit inside this area · 5 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 79% | 76% |
| Greentree Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 60% | 57% |
| Irvine International AcademyCharter Elementary | K-8 | 78% | 75% |
| Venado Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 7-8 | 77% | 69% |
| Irvine High High School | 9-12 | 74% | 62% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around El Camino Real
99 Ranch Market · Mitsuwa Marketplace · Ralphs · Smart & Final
7 Leaves Cafe · Bambu · Gong Cha · Lollicup
101 Noodle Express · A&J Restaurant · Ace Donut · Ameci Pizza & Pasta
Doe Trail Park · Greentree school park · Orchard Park · Presley Park
Main Gym · Practice Gym
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to El Camino Real
What the census says about El Camino Real
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe El Camino Real; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 24 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 84%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1975
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 4%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 6%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 97%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 58%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,173
- total housing units
Averaged across 5 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
El Camino Real in the regional index
How El Camino Real places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where growing up led to higher adult earnings
Ranks #11 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where police report the fewest incidents
Ranks #19 of 254 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Plenty nearby, easy to get around
Ranks #56 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in El Camino Real
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Frequently asked questions
How walkable is El Camino Real?+
It's moderately walkable for some errands. You can reach restaurants, coffee, and grocery stores on foot from most locations, but a car is useful for everything else. The village ranks 104th of 319 neighborhoods regionally for walkability.
Do I need a car here?+
Yes. El Camino Real has minimal transit access and no Metro rail nearby, ranking 314th of 319 for transit. A car is strongly recommended for daily life and any commute.
What parks and outdoor space are nearby?+
The village has Willows Park, Greentree school park, Doe Trail Park, and Orchard Park within the area. Tree cover is limited at about 10 percent, so shade is sparse, but parks offer recreational facilities and open space.
How much does rent cost here?+
Current residents pay a median of about $2,851 per month. El Camino Real ranks 169th of 210 neighborhoods regionally for rent, placing it in the middle of the market. Irvine as a whole tends toward the higher end, so this is moderate for the area.
Is El Camino Real walkable?+
El Camino Real ranks #120 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in El Camino Real?+
Current residents of El Camino Real pay a median rent of about $2,851 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in El Camino Real?+
El Camino Real has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 60 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to El Camino Real?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to El Camino Real are Great Park Irvine, Westpark, Century City and UCI Area.