Santa Ana community of older homes in a convenient location
Santa Ana has many neighborhoods, from historic districts to urban downtown Santa Ana. Between those two sits Willard, a community that offers a mix of suburban and urban traits. Close to Santa Ana’s City Hall and Orange County’s Superior Court, Willard has law offices and other local businesses and services. Apartment complexes and rental homes line many of the neighborhood’s streets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find single-family homes — affordable ones — clustered throughout the area. Sarah Covarrubias, Realtor with Seven Gables Real Estate who has been selling homes around the area since 2000, thinks this is one of the main reasons people purchase in the neighborhood. “I think what draws people to Willard is the price. It’s not the least expensive area of Santa Ana, but it’s very affordable,” she says.
Older homes entice investors
The neighborhood’s sidewalks cross in front of older homes and newer condos, past mature trees and open lots. Willard is an older suburb, but its housing inventory is starting to shift as owners remodel or rebuild. Mindy Luong, a Broker and Realtor who has owned and sold properties in the area, says, “It’s mostly older homes, but they’re well-maintained. It’s a very appealing area for investors.”
Few detached, single-family residences come on the market, but they sell between $500,000 and $900,000 when they do. Entire condo buildings have recently come on the market, starting at $1.2 million and exceeding $3.5 million.
West 17th Street offers shopping and dining
Luong describes nearby West 17th Street as a lively area. “It gets really active at night,” she says. “People like all the restaurants. It’s a popular area to go out for dinner.” While residents might have to journey further up or down the thoroughfare for dining options, there are a few nearby, like Tito’s La Especial. The neighborhood’s shopping is also concentrated around West 17th Street, including an auto supply shop, a bicycle shop, and Big Saver Foods, where residents can easily pick up groceries.
Things to do near Willard
Willard is a quiet area without any major events. However, plenty of city amenities are nearby, providing residents with plenty to do. Fans of local football and soccer teams will have easy access to the Santa Ana stadium, located on North Flower Street. Santa Ana Public Library, one of the two branches in the city, is close, just off Civic Center Plaza Drive. Willard is also conveniently located near all the entertainment options in Downtown Santa Ana. Locals attend the Downtown Santa Ana Artwalk on the first Saturday of the month, browse through the eclectic array of locally owned boutiques and get drinks with friends at Vacation Bar, a bar and restaurant with a fun Old Havana vibe.
Neighborhood kids attend Santa Ana Unified Schools
Neighborhood kids start school at Wilson Elementary School, graded B-minus by Niche. They go on to attend Willard Intermediate School, graded C. From there, kids will attend Santa Ana High School, graded B-minus by Niche. At Santa Ana High School, they can earn credits through local Santa Ana College. The college is near the neighborhood and is expanding its course catalog and programs.
Residents visit nearby Birch Park
There are no parks in Willard. Residents will have to travel a few blocks south to Birch Park. This three-acre park offers picnic areas surrounded by green grass and shady trees. Kids can run and play in the open space, and adults can take advantage of the outdoor fitness equipment. The park is also home to the Santa Ana Senior Center, which offers residents aged 55 and older a space to spend time together and stay active. The center offers bingo, regular social dances and language classes.
Walkability in Willard other travel options
According to the Walk Score assessment, the neighborhood is highly walkable, earning an 87 out of 100. Residents can run to the grocery store or reach Downtown Santa Ana on foot.
Interstate 5 runs outside the neighborhood. Newport Beach is only 14 miles southwest, and Anaheim is 10 miles north. John Wayne Aiport is eight miles south in Irvine.
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
Dale Cheema,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
French Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Angels Community Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Picnic Area
Chepa's Park
Basketball
Playground
Birch Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Parking Lot
Sasscer Park
Trails
Santiago Park
Baseball/Softball
Bike Trails
Picnic Area
Transit
Airport
John Wayne/Orange County
12 min drive
Bus
Civic Center-Van Ness
Bus
Main-Washington
Bus
flower-15th
Bus
Civic Center-Birch
Bus
flower-10th
Bus
Main-Civic Center
Bus
main-15th
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Willard
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
9
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Willard, Santa Ana sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Willard, Santa Ana over the last 12 months is $764,000.
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Dale Cheema,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
9,166
Median Age
32
Population Density
47 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31.4%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
7.9%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$52,191
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,055
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
49.7%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
9.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
12''
Average Winter Low Temperature
48°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
61/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
88/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
50/ 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.
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.
