Harvard Square Neighborhood Guide
Researching Harvard Square neighborhood in Irvine California? Here is a complete guide with the most up to date information about Harvard Square neighborhood!
Overview
ABOUT Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a neighborhood in Irvine, California. It is a gated, master-planned neighborhood spanning 827 acres and containing 455 homes in the community of Walnut Village. Built primarily in the 1970s, Harvard Square retains much of the architectural aesthetic of the period. Three developments tracts are found in Harvard Square—Cambridge, Centennial and Revere.
Many neighborhood amenities are available to Harvard Square residents, including swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts and a clubhouse. An outstanding feature in the community is Harvard Community Park, a large, circle-shaped park directly in the center of the neighborhood.
A wide variety of shopping and dining is available at the nearby Walnut Village Shopping Center, Culver Plaza Shopping Center and The Market Place. Shopping is also available at Heritage Plaza.
Harvard Square public school students attend College Park Elementary School, Venado Middle School and Irvine High School. There are also several private schools in the area.
The Harvard Square neighborhood is populated largely by white collar workers. The median age is thirty-eight years. Roughly fifty-six percent of families in the area have children under eighteen living at home. Over fifty percent of residents own their homes. Top interests of residents include hiking, sports, gardening and landscaping.
Many of the activities in Harvard Square are family-oriented and are centered on parks and recreation. A hub for much of this activity is Harvard Community Park, with its abundance of sports amenities and beautiful community center. A highly anticipated community event in the neighborhood is the Oktoberfest weekend, held in Harvard Square every October.
TOP Harvard Square HIGHLIGHTS
Natural Disasters
Although Harvard Square’s earthquake index is roughly 3.80 under the state’s index of 21.80, recorded earthquake activity in the area is nothing to dismiss. This neighborhood has an exponentially higher chance of experiencing tremors and higher magnitude earthquakes than the majority of residential areas in the country.
Like many areas of the state, this neighborhood is no stranger to flood conditions, droughts, and dangerously high temperatures. Wildfires may spread from nearby state parks and reserves, which can quickly lead to emergency conditions in Harvard Square.
The local tornado index of 41.97 is high relative to California’s index. Thunderstorms and high winds may give rise to tornado activity.
Commute
With an average one-way commute of twenty-two minutes, commuting is relatively convenient for Harvard Square residents. Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) may be taken northwest to Tustin, Santa Ana or Anaheim or southward to Mission Viejo or San Clemente. Highway 261 connects to Interstate 405 and Highway 73 for commutes to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.
Highway 261 also connects to Highway 241, which intersects with California 91 Expressway for traveling to west to Compton or northeast to Riverside. During rush hour, the I-5 and I-405 freeways can be cluttered, so an alternate route, such as Culver Drive, is recommended during the heaviest traffic.
Crime Rate
Harvard Square’s total crime rate impressively tracks roughly 49% below the national average. This backs up this neighborhood’s reputation for being one of the most secure in the state.
The annual violent crime rate falls 85% below the country’s average, and property crime rates also track over 40% below the national average. For reference, the violent crime rate per 100K residents is 56, while California’s same rate is 447. The property crime rate per 100K residents is 1,270, which is notably under both California’s rate and the country’s rate.
For further context, Irvine residents have an estimated 1 in 76 chance of personally experiencing any type of crime.
Education
SCHOOLS IN Harvard Square
Public schools serving Harvard Square are in the Irvine Unified School District. These schools are College Park Elementary School, Venado Middle School and Irvine High School.
College Park Elementary School has a primarily English-speaking student body with a large number of students from various ethnic backgrounds who speak several different languages. This international population creates a diverse culture the school is proud of.
Venado Middle School provides an academically challenging, comprehensive education. The school’s main goal is to lead students to reach their highest potential by recognizing their greatest gifts. School staff and teachers strive to empower students with the knowledge, skills and values needed to meet the challenges of a changing world.
Irvine High School is a top-rated school whose mission is to enable each student to become a contributing member of society by providing a high-quality educational experience. Irvine High operates under the belief that successful education is the shared responsibility of students, educators, parents and the community.
Schools
- ELEMENTARY
- MIDDLE
- HIGH
- PRIVATE
Real Estate
Harvard Square Housing 2020
There are usually only a handful of homes for sale at a given time in Harvard Square. As of January 2019, three homes in the neighborhood were for sale.
From 2014 to 2018, a number of homes sold in Harvard Square. In 2014, fifteen homes in Harvard Square sold for $715,000 to $1,200,370. In 2015, eight homes sold for $735,000 to $1,320,000. Thirteen homes sold in 2016, ranging from $820,000 to $1,375,000. Throughout 2017, a total of ten homes in the community sold for $880,000 to $1,400,000. During 2018, six homes sold from $918,000 to $1,275,000.
The median list price and median sold price of homes in Harvard Square remained nearly equal from 2016 through 2019. In July of 2018, however, the median sold price rose considerably above the median list price. This disparity between the median list price and the median sold price has narrowed since peaking in 2018.
Harvard Square Homes for Sale
Master planned by the Irvine Company, Harvard Square is a gated community in the Walnut Village area of Irvine. Most of the 455 homes in Harvard Square are single-family homes built in the 1970s.
There are three development tracts that comprise the Harvard Square community—Cambridge, Centennial and Revere. These areas are lined with gorgeous, mature trees, and many of the homes sit on large lots.
A typical older single family home in Harvard Square is a two-story, three-bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home with an attached two-car garage and a full two-car driveway. A typical newer single-family Harvard Square home might include five bedrooms and three bathrooms with walk-in closets and a two-car garage.
Although Harvard Square is comprised primarily of single-family homes, there are apartments available in the community, including the Villa Hermosa Apartments, located in the southwest region of the neighborhood near the intersection of Harvard Avenue and Walnut.
FEATURED HOMES FOR SALE
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