Placentia - tell me about it... (Anaheim, Orange: crime, homes, neighborhoods)

[ducviloxi]

I am trying to research homes in Placentia and have been finding some decent 3bd 1500ish sqft single family homes (built 1980-1990) for around the $350k price point which is my budget.

How is Placentia? Are there any areas to avoid? I do not have any kids but am curious about the school system just for a bit of future proofing. How is the crime and safety profile?

I drove through the area just before Carbon Canyon and it seemed really nice! The area I was looking at was bounded by Anaheim lake, Yorba linda Blvd and the 90.

[EscapeCalifornia]

The newer parts of Placentia to the east are nice. The southwest corner is not so nice. There's good Mexican food on Bradford in Old Town.

[LAMelanie]

Some people consider Placentia to be a "nice" area in north OC.

[radiojunkie2006]

I'm a new resident of Placentia and really like it. Crime is less than half the US average and I'm from Chicago so this was important to me. I did live in central Orange County for ten years and am liking the northern part of the county better. There's a lot of freight train traffic going through the area so if you don't like hearing train horns during the day and night you may not be happy. Watch out for speed traps in town. The Placentia police like sitting in school parking lots when school is in session looking for speeders. There always seems to be one at Valencia HS on Bradford.

[Nayabone]

Originally Posted by radiojunkie2006

I'm a new resident of Placentia and really like it. Crime is less than half the US average and I'm from Chicago so this was important to me. I did live in central Orange County for ten years and am liking the northern part of the county better. There's a lot of freight train traffic going through the area so if you don't like hearing train horns during the day and night you may not be happy. Watch out for speed traps in town. The Placentia police like sitting in school parking lots when school is in session looking for speeders. There always seems to be one at Valencia HS on Bradford.

Those cops are not sitting in the High School parking lot watching for speeders. They are school resource officers assigned to the schools. They aren't sitting in the cars, they are working at the schools. Your imagination is running wild...!!
Placentia is a nice town. It has a bad area like most towns, but overall it's a pleasant place to live..

[radiojunkie2006]

I still wouldn't recommend going over the speed limit.

[iamtall]

Placentia is nice! There are some neighborhoods slightly less than desirable, but just drive there, and you will quickly get the vibe. Most of it is nice and friendly.

[ragnarkar]

Crime rate, it's a little safer than the national average.

I never lived there but I used to commute through the area.. seems like a fairly upscale but expensive place. Looks a bit bland to my tastes. If you want some place with more character, try Brea or Fullerton.

[OGTSO]

Stay north of Orangethorpe and preferably Yorba Linda Blvd. Placentia is very nice North of Yorba Linda Blvd. The "Atwood" neighborhood of Placentia (South of Orangethorpe) is gang infested. The area around the Tri-City park (Golden & Kraemer) is a very quiet well kept area.

[ducviloxi]

how would you rate Brea, Yorba Linda and Fullerton relative to Placentia... in terms of affluence, safety and general level of being upscale..