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Irvine Spectrum

Irvine Spectrum

Suburban Neighborhood in Irvine, California

Orange County 92618

$1,144,015 Average Value
$761 Average Price per Sq Ft
1 Home For Sale

Irvine's lively downtown business district, best known for its eponymous mall

Irvine Spectrum, considered the city’s downtown, is an action-packed neighborhood in the heart of Irvine. The dynamic urban area effortlessly blends business and entertainment with its namesake shopping center. The Moroccan-style complex promises a lifestyle of convenience, retail galore and above all, fun. Emblematic of this sentiment are the mall’s carousel and the Giant Wheel, a Ferris wheel that has become an Irvine landmark. "It's a 180-degree difference from the surrounding residential neighborhoods. If you like to be surrounded by things to do, this is the place," says Realtor Lucy Di Profio, who works with Re/Max Premier and has over three decades of experience. Irvine Spectrum is a thriving business district where residents can live, work and play, all in the same place.

Irvine Spectrum is a popular spot for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Irvine Spectrum is a popular spot for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Irvine Spectrum can catch the latest film at the Regal movie theater.
Irvine Spectrum can catch the latest film at the Regal movie theater.
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Irvine Spectrum Center, Los Olivos Marketplace and Alton Marketplace

The neighborhood is anchored by the Irvine Spectrum Center, a vibrant retail and lifestyle complex with over 175 stores, entertainment venues and restaurants. Its major department stores are Nordstrom and Target, while other familiar names include Barnes & Noble, Urban Outfitters and Lululemon. For entertainment, the mall has the Regal Irvine Spectrum movie theater and the Irvine Improv comedy club. Irvine Spectrum Center’s diverse restaurants include the upscale steakhouse Del Frisco's Grille and casual fast-food chains like Shake Shack. For frequent events, there’s live music by local musicians every Friday and Saturday evening. Wintertime is an especially festive season for the mall, which puts in an ice skating rink and a 75-foot Christmas tree that glows with a light show. Just south of the Irvine Spectrum Center is a strip mall called the Los Olivos Marketplace, which has a Whole Foods for grocery shopping. Alton Marketplace, directly north of Irvine Spectrum Center, has a Costco.

Whole Foods is one of the main grocery stores to shop at for Irvine Spectrum residents.
Whole Foods is one of the main grocery stores to shop at for Irvine Spectrum residents.
Irvine Spectrum has multiple fountains that add to the decor of the shopping center.
Irvine Spectrum has multiple fountains that add to the decor of the shopping center.
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A gated HOA community and apartment complexes in Irvine Spectrum

Centered around the Irvine Spectrum Mall, the neighborhood is mostly composed of other shopping malls and business centers, giving it an active, bustling atmosphere. Modern apartment complexes, including The Village and The Park at Irvine Spectrum, make up the majority of the area’s housing. The only single-family homes are located in a gated HOA community called Barcelona, which offers a private resort-style experience. The community’s amenities include a pool, a clubhouse and sports courts. Here the front yards are small, with just enough space for garden beds, but the backyards are larger and come with patios. "It's a newer neighborhood, so the homes are very spacious, very modern," Di Profio says. All the homes feature a Mediterranean style, with stucco exteriors and red-tiled roofs. They range from $1.9 to $2.5 million. The neighborhood’s CAP Index Crime Score is an 8 out of 10, higher than the national average 4 out of 10. It has especially high scores for property crimes, scoring a 10 out of 10 for burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.

Apartment homes in Irvine Spectrum have rentals starting at around $2,700/month.
Apartment homes in Irvine Spectrum have rentals starting at around $2,700/month.
Most single-family homes in Irvine Spectrum are Mediterranean-style homes.
Most single-family homes in Irvine Spectrum are Mediterranean-style homes.
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Highly rated Irvine Unified public schools

On Niche, Alderwood Elementary has an A rating, while Rancho San Joaquin Middle School and University High School have A-plus ratings. The high school offers courses like principles of engineering, science fiction literature and marine science. “Other than the mall, people also go there for the schools. University High is a good school, and the area has access to a lot of private schools, so that's another reason,” says Allison Zheng, a Realtor with Re/Max Premier Realty with three years of experience in the area. One of the private schools is Pacific Academy – Irvine, rated an A-plus on Niche. Nearby higher education options include Irvine Valley College and Stanbridge University.

The biggest local employers, including Blizzard Entertainment

The neighborhood’s northern section has a multitude of tech and startup companies. The high concentration of businesses results in a dynamic, fast-paced atmosphere that reverberates throughout Irvine Spectrum. Some of the area’s biggest employers include Blizzard Entertainment, Amazon Web Services and Ivantis, Inc.

Apartment complexes in Irvine Spectrum are located near business and industrial centers.
Apartment complexes in Irvine Spectrum are located near business and industrial centers.
Irvine Spectrum is a business hub for many residents living in nearby areas.
Irvine Spectrum is a business hub for many residents living in nearby areas.
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Great Park and the San Diego Creek Trail

Despite being a dense urban area, the neighborhood has access to multiple parks. The largest is Great Park, which borders Irvine Spectrum to the north. Once used as an airfield, the park has been redesigned to provide 1,300 acres of outdoor activities, including a hot air balloon ride, a carousel and a weekly farmers market every Sunday. It also has many sports fields and walking paths. The San Diego Creek Trail, which runs along the neighborhood’s west side, is another local favorite. The 10-mile multiuse trail connects over 400 miles of trails for endless jogs, walks and bike rides.

Great Park and nearby neighborhood residents can shoot some hoops at the basketball courts.
Great Park and nearby neighborhood residents can shoot some hoops at the basketball courts.
Bikers enjoy the San Diego Creek Trail in Irvine Spectrum.
Bikers enjoy the San Diego Creek Trail in Irvine Spectrum.
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A 40-mile commute to downtown Los Angeles

Widely considered to be the city’s downtown, Irvine Spectrum is a car-dependent community. Via Interstate 5, it’s located about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. It’s also next to Interstate 405. The community is served by Orange County Transportation Authority buses. For medical services, residents can go to Kaiser Permanente Orange County - Irvine Medical Center, located on the neighborhood's western edge. Irvine Spectrum is about 10 miles east of the closest major airport, the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

Anna Anderson
Written By
Anna Anderson
Ling Ge
Photography Contributed By
Ling Ge
Anne Sheridan
Video By
Anne Sheridan

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Jenny Jiang, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

John Wayne/Orange County

14 min drive

Bus

Technology-Alton

Bus

Meridian (Wb)-Village And Park

Bus

Goodyear-Fleming

Bus

Gateway-Alton

Bus

Alton-Ada

Bus

Irvine Station-Dock 5

Bus

Alton-Pacifica

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Irvine Spectrum US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 5 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 4 4
Burglary 10 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 10 4
Larceny 10 4
Crime Score 8 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Townhouse Price
$1,950,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$761
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median List Price
$1,839,995

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
10
Median Year Built
2021
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,295
Significantly above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,914
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,416

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Jenny Jiang, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
7,651
Median Age
36
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
6.1%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$98,694
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$113,513

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
99.4%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
68.4%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.5%
% Population in Labor Force
74.4%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
12''
Average Winter Low Temperature
48°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

47 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

45 / 100

Some Transit

Transit Score®

32 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Reviews

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Irvine Spectrum