Orange County's original watering hole is now a cultural hub
Since its development in the 1920s, people in Orange County have found Midway City to be a natural resting point. Its name was earned in its early days for being about halfway between Santa Ana and Seal Beach. During the county's early 1900s oil rush, the city became the spot for carriage travelers to stop and let their horses rest between the beach and the hills. Today, instead of being a stopping point for horse-drawn travelers, Midway City is a meeting point for global cultures. "People come here for the community, especially to be near Little Saigon," says Mindy Luong, president of HPT Realty and resident of Little Saigon. Little Saigon is a prominent Vietnamese neighborhood, a few blocks east of the city. "This area brings together so much culture because people from Vietnam specifically seek out this community," says Luong. Along with rich cultural cuisine and activity, Midway City offers the residential benefits of Orange County. "It's got all the nice Orange County things," says Luong. "Good schools, good weather and it's close to the beach."
Early OC suburbia
This area provides a look back at Orange County's early suburban development. Its residential blocks are sectioned into uniform grassy lawns with 1930s cottages and 1950s ranch-style homes. The city's median price of about $1 million is standard for these options, although updated older homes on particularly large lots, and the occasional large newer home, can reach $1.5 million. Lower-priced condos, townhouses and manufactured homes are closer to main thoroughfares. Two-bedroom townhouses can start around $600,000, while small manufactured homes can be found for under $100,000.
Cultural immersion in Little Saigon and Old World Village
Midway City is aptly positioned between two of Orange County's most unique commercial centers. Little Saigon is a short drive east on Bolsa Avenue. This Westminster neighborhood proudly displays its Vietnamese heritage with strip malls of pho spots, bakeries and tea houses. The Asian Garden Mall is Little Saigon's grand centerpiece, resembling a palace full of Vietnamese shops and jewelry stores. Its annual night market is a can't-miss event in the summer. There's also a strip mall of Vietnamese eateries in the city on Beach Boulevard. Old World Village is a possibly more eclectic center south across Interstate 405 that's made to look like a centuries-old European city. Cobblestone walkways meander through tightly packed stucco buildings housing German biergartens, cafes and shops. General shopping is across the street at the Bella Terra Shopping Center, a complex with plenty of retail, grocery and department stores.
Two top-rated Orange County school districts
The Westminster School District serves Midway City students from kindergarten to eighth grade, and it receives an A-minus overall grade from Niche. Their academic journey ends with the Huntington Beach Union High School District, which earns an A-plus and is rated the No. 4 best district in Orange County.
Community parks and Huntington Beach within a short drive
Midway City has a couple of small community parks, like Park West Park, with its playground and tennis courts. Mile Square Park is just 3 miles southeast. The park is named for its square-mile dimensions, with acres of lawn space with walking paths and ponds, three public golf courses and athletic courts and fields of all kinds at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center. The sand and surf are also a short drive away, with Huntington Beach only 7 miles down state Route 39.
Take the 405 to Irvine or LA
The surrounding area has a few industrial centers and business parks, but most people commute on Interstate 405, which conveniently runs diagonally next to the city. It goes right through Irvine, Orange County's tech and finance hub, 12 miles southeast. John Wayne Airport, the nearest outlet for commercial flights, is 10 miles in the same direction. Anaheim's entertainment meccas, like Disneyland, are 10 miles north. Huntington Beach Hospital is the nearest medical center, 3 miles south. Drivers can head over 30 miles up the 405 to downtown LA. Like most of Southern California, this is a car-dependent area, but buses stop throughout the city. The Orange County Sheriff's Department North Patrol serves the city. Specific crime statistics for the area aren't available.
