Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Mission Viejo Hills
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Mission Viejo Hills
Rent control: Mission Viejohas 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 Mission Viejo Hills scores for you
Checking your quiz profile…
Score Mission Viejo Hills your way
Drag a slider to say how much each thing matters to you. The score updates live.
Want the real thing? Take the full quiz to factor in your budget and commute and rank Mission Viejo Hills against every neighborhood.
Mission Viejo Hills is a residential area in south-central Mission Viejo, Orange County. It sits in a planned suburban setting with lower density than nearby communities, offering a quieter pace with single-family homes and smaller apartment complexes. The area draws families and long-term residents seeking a more spacious, residential environment away from major commercial corridors.
Day-to-day life here centers on car-based errands and school runs. While some shopping and dining options are accessible nearby, you will need a vehicle for most trips. The area has limited public transit and no nearby rail service, making car ownership practical rather than optional.
Living here
Most residents rely on a car to reach grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment. Amenities like Stater Bros., Sprouts, and Ralphs are within short drive distances, and parks including William S. Craycraft Park, Castlewood Park, and Estrella Vista Park offer outdoor recreation. Coffee shops and casual dining (The Human Bean, Bagels and Brew, Mission Ranch Market Restaurant) are scattered throughout, but walking to them from most homes is not practical.
Air quality here ranks below the California median for diesel PM exposure, and traffic exposure runs above average for the region. Tree cover is limited at about 14 percent, so summers can feel exposed. Schools, a stable residential vibe, and lower-density streets appeal to families prioritizing space and established neighborhood character over urban walkability.
Who it's for
Mission Viejo Hills suits families, retirees, and professionals who prioritize a quiet, spread-out residential setting over walkability and public transit. If you own a car and value suburban living with parks and schools nearby, this area works well. It is less suited to renters who prefer walkable neighborhoods, robust transit access, or dense urban amenities.
Environment & livability
Air quality: below the California median for diesel PM exposure.
Air quality here is better than average for the state. Worth noting if you have respiratory sensitivities.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
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 Mission Viejo Hills
Population
95,335
Renters
25%
of households rent
Median age
44
Median income
$141k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Mission Viejo Hills
15 public schools sit inside this area · 13 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castille Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 80% | 79% |
| De Portola Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 73% | 77% |
| Del Cerro Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 63% | 63% |
| Del Lago Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 43% | 34% |
| Glen Yermo Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 46% | 45% |
| Lake Forest Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 51% | 44% |
| Linda Vista Magnet Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 46% | 38% |
| Montevideo Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 54% | 62% |
| Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange CountyCharter Elementary | K-5 | 80% | 78% |
| Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 36% | 36% |
| Tijeras Creek Elementary Elementary | K-5 | 73% | 69% |
| La Paz Intermediate Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 7-8 | 70% | 63% |
| Los Alisos Intermediate Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 7-8 | 44% | 37% |
| Esperanza Education Center High School | 12 | — | — |
| La Tierra Early Childhood Center Preschool | No Data | — | — |
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 Mission Viejo Hills
ALDI · Mission Ranch Market · Ralphs · Smart & Final
Bagels and Brew · Boba Bee · Boba R Us · Kona Loa Coffee
All Star Pizza · Aloha Hawaiian BBQ · Aloha Stacks · Ameci Pizza & Pasta
Aegean Hills Park · Arroyo Vista Park · Barcelona Park · Bart Spendlove Memorial Pk
24 Hour Fitness · Hangar 18 Climbing Gym · LA Fitness
Check your commute from Mission Viejo Hills
Enter your work (or any) address for real travel times from this neighborhood.
Similar neighborhoods
Next to Mission Viejo Hills
What the census says about Mission Viejo Hills
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Mission Viejo Hills; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 29 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 74%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1982
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 3%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 3%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 96%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 66%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 33,796
- total housing units
Averaged across 56 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Finding a place in Mission Viejo Hills
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car to live here?+
Yes. The area ranks 149th of 319 for transit access and has no nearby rail stations. Walking covers only some errands, and most daily needs require a vehicle.
What is the rent around here?+
Current residents pay a median of $2,782 per month, which ranks 166th of 210 areas regionally. Rents are roughly at the regional median, making this area fairly typical in cost for Orange County.
How is the air quality?+
Air quality ranks 78th of 318 areas, below the California median for diesel PM exposure. If air quality is a priority, this area may not be your best fit.
Are there parks nearby?+
Yes. The area has about 1.56 parks per small cell within short walking distance, including William S. Craycraft Park, Castlewood Park, Vista Del Lago Park, and Estrella Vista Park.
How walkable is this neighborhood?+
It ranks 218th of 319 for walkability. You can handle some errands on foot, but a car is useful for most shopping, dining, and services.
Is Mission Viejo Hills walkable?+
Mission Viejo Hills ranks #259 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Mission Viejo Hills?+
Current residents of Mission Viejo Hills pay a median rent of about $2,782 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher. Among 40 current listings on Saktoo, the median asking rent is $3,500.
How is the air quality in Mission Viejo Hills?+
Mission Viejo Hills has below the California median for diesel PM exposure, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 36 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Mission Viejo Hills?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Mission Viejo Hills are South Laguna Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Marino and Pacific Palisades.
How many apartments are available in Mission Viejo Hills?+
Saktoo currently tracks 40 active listings in Mission Viejo Hills, starting at $2,000 per month.