Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Oak Creek
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Oak Creek
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 Oak Creek scores for you
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Oak Creek is a planned residential village in Irvine designed around a walkable community layout. Like other master-planned neighborhoods in Irvine, it combines suburban living with intentional street design and shared amenities. The village centers on local parks and retail, with a pedestrian-friendly environment that lets you handle many errands on foot.
Day-to-day life here revolves around the village's core amenities and the broader Irvine infrastructure. You'll find restaurants, coffee shops, and fitness options nearby, though car travel is necessary for many trips beyond the immediate village. Tree cover is limited, which shapes how the streets feel in summer heat.
Living here
Most of your walking happens within the village itself. Oak Creek ranks in the top third for walkability across the region (77th of 319 neighborhoods), well above the regional average of 0.62, making it easy to reach shops and restaurants without a car for routine needs. However, transit access is essentially nonexistent: no Metro rail stations serve the area, and buses are minimal, so a car is strongly recommended for anything beyond the village.
The tradeoff in convenience shows in traffic exposure. Oak Creek sits in a moderate traffic corridor (ranking 194th of 317 areas, above average), and air quality is moderate with some diesel PM influence. Rents here run around $2,886 per month for current residents, which places the village slightly above the regional median and reflects Irvine's overall pricing.
Who it's for
Oak Creek works well for renters who prioritize a walkable, planned community feel and don't mind driving for most activities. Families appreciate the parks (Hoeptner Park, Oak Creek Community Park, and others within the village), the organized layout, and good schools. It suits professionals working in Irvine itself or nearby in Orange County who want a quieter, car-dependent suburban setting rather than a transit-oriented 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: 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.
Schools in Oak Creek
2 public schools sit inside this area · 1 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Learning Center Elementary | K | — | — |
| Oak Creek Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 59% | 57% |
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 Oak Creek
Macu Tea · Tiger Sugar
Chipotle · Dunkin' · Four Sea Restaurant · I Can Barbecue Korean Grill
Dovecreek Park · Hoeptner Park · Oak Creek Community Park · Orangetree Park
9Round · Supreme Fitness
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What the census says about Oak Creek
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Oak Creek; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 24 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 67%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1980
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 3%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 3%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 97%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 29%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 2,842
- total housing units
Averaged across 5 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Oak Creek in the regional index
How Oak Creek places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- Where growing up led to higher adult earnings
Ranks #9 of 263 neighborhoods on this weighting.
- Where police report the fewest incidents
Ranks #16 of 254 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Oak Creek
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Frequently asked questions
Is Oak Creek walkable for daily errands?+
Yes, for routine needs within the village. You can walk to restaurants like Nodology and I Can Barbecue Korean Grill, coffee shops, and parks. For grocery shopping, medical care, or trips outside Irvine, you'll need a car.
Do I need a car in Oak Creek?+
A car is strongly recommended. There is no rail transit nearby and minimal bus service. While the village is walkable for short trips, most errands and all work commutes will require driving.
What parks are in or near Oak Creek?+
The village includes Hoeptner Park, Oak Creek Community Park, Valley Oak Park, and Dovecreek Park within a short walk. These provide recreation and green space for residents and families.
How is the air quality and traffic here?+
Air quality is moderate, with some diesel exposure typical of Southern California. Traffic exposure is above average for the region due to nearby corridors, though the village itself has a quieter, planned layout.
Is Oak Creek walkable?+
Oak Creek ranks #90 of 346 LA neighborhoods for walkability. In practice, walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
What is the average rent in Oak Creek?+
Current residents of Oak Creek pay a median rent of about $2,886 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in Oak Creek?+
Oak Creek has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 53 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Oak Creek?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Oak Creek are Agoura Hills, Playa del Rey, Inland Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.