Magazine: Irvine 14th among ‘Best Places to Live’

For the second time in a week, Irvine placed among the 15 best places to live in a national survey.

At No. 14, Irvine is the top California city on Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live 2014” list. Earlier this month, the city placed sixth among 50 cities reviewed by the financial news website 24/7 Wall St.

For the Money report, the top 50 cities were selected from among those with populations of 50,000 to 300,000, based on factors including median family income, economic opportunity and housing affordability.

Reporters then visited the top 35 cities to gauge community spirit, the happiness of residents, attractiveness of parks and more.

The magazine described Irvine as one of the “largest master-planned communities in the country,” with more than 54 miles of bike paths, 20,000 acres of parks and close proximity to the beach.

The downside, the magazine states: “Median home prices top $650,000, and traffic can be a brute during rush hour.”

The magazine ranked Irvine fourth on its list in 2008 and sixth in 2012.

--Harold Pierce