The 5 Best Neighborhoods in Anaheim

Anaheim may be best known as the home of the original Disneyland, but to its residents it’s far more than just a theme park lover’s paradise! A fabulous climate, plenty of redevelopment, new homes construction, and a booming economy, makes Anaheim a great place to live and it’s ‘somewhat walkable’ according to Walk Score’s score of 61. So if you’re thinking of moving to Anaheim, or you already live here and want a change of scenery, which are the best neighborhoods in Anaheim? Read on…

The Colony

Convenient living doesn’t come much better than a home in The Colony neighborhood. Right in downtown Anaheim this historic part of the city is also known as the Colonial District and though it’s not the economic heart of the city it’s still got plenty of amenities to make use of. Walk Score gives The Colony a score of 69 because you can walk to parks, businesses, schools, recreation, restaurants and stores, plus the neighborhood has a stable housing market and is safer than over 16 percent of the neighborhoods in Anaheim. Having said this, crime levels are higher than the city and state averages, and you have a 1 in 29 chance of being a victim of crime here. Attractions include Mother Colony House which was one of the first buildings to be constructed in Anaheim.

Southwest Anaheim

With a Walk Score of 67 Southwest Anaheim is the second most walkable neighborhood in the city and one of the nicest places to live according to Area Vibes. The Southwest neighborhood is home to one of the world’s most famous theme parks and resort areas, Disneyland Resort, so not only are you neighbors with this magical place but you also benefit from the many amenities and services that have grown up around the resort area. This means countless restaurants, stores, and plenty of public transit options are on the doorstep, while there are many schools in the neighborhood for kids to attend. Crime levels are okay – Southwest is safer than 50 percent of the neighborhoods in Anaheim, but overall the crime index is 18 percent higher than the city average.

Northwest Anaheim

Northwest Anaheim has a more residential feel than our prior two neighborhoods yet it still has grocery stores, restaurants, and stores focused mainly around North Euclid Street. This means you can enjoy the residential feel but still make use of amenities close by. Northwest Anaheim is actually the third most walkable neighborhood in the city with a Walk Score of 67, and there are several schools and parks here for families. The drawback is that crime rates are higher; the crime index is 29 percent higher than the city average.

West Anaheim

Across Interstate 5 from Northwest is the much larger neighborhood of West Anaheim, home to around 71,000 people. This large neighborhood is the fourth most walkable in the city and has a Walk Score of 67, and it has everything you need for day to day living – there are schools, parks, shops, services, restaurants, a golf course and other recreational facilities to make use of.

Platinum Triangle

The Platinum Triangle is Anaheim’s up and coming neighborhood. It’s going through a huge phase of redevelopment that includes high-density housing, shopping, commercial and an industrial zone that’s making this into the hippest neighborhood in the city. Centered around Anaheim’s two major sports venues – Honda Center, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim – this is also a great place to live if you enjoy sports because you can watch the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks at one, and the MLB’s Angels at the other. This isn’t such a family friendly neighborhood, but it’s great for young professionals and it has a Walk Score of 63 meaning that some errands can be accomplished on foot.