UCI

Quality of Life

Ratings of the quality of life in Orange County have increased sharply from a year ago, and have reached a high point in the 1990s. Perceptions of the future of Orange County also show more optimism than pessimism. Eighty-two percent believe that things are going well with the quality of life in Orange County today, including 17 percent reporting very well and 65 percent saying somewhat well. Only 18 percent say things are going badly. Graph

Compared to a year ago, there has been a 14-point increase in the number saying the quality of life in the county is going well. The positive scores today are much improved over those in 1990 (75%), 1991 (66%), 1992 and 1993 (60% each), 1994 (71%) and 1995 (68%). In fact, only in 1987 (87%) and 1988 (85%) were greater numbers of residents saying things were going well in Orange County.

Importantly, there are no differences in perceptions of the quality of life in Orange County today across regions, racial or income groups. Adult residents who are under 35 are somewhat more likely to say things are going well than those who are 35 and older (87% to 80%).

As for the future, 36 percent expect Orange County to be a better place to live, while 28 percent think it will be worse. Thirty-six percent expect it to be about the same as it is today. Last year, 34 percent said things will get better, 28 percent said worse and 38 percent said the same. Graph

This year marks only the fourth time since we began asking this question in 1983 that there is more optimism than pessimism in the county's future. The previous years in which optimism exceeded pessimism were in 1983 (40% to 35%), 1985 (43% to 35%) and 1995 (34% to 28%).

There are no statistically significant differences by age, region, income or ethnicity and race in optimism about Orange County's future.