Anaheim, CA, United States

Tourism and hospitality dominate the economy, with Disneyland Resort as the obvious anchor employing roughly 30,000 people directly. The Angels and Ducks add sports entertainment jobs, while the Convention Center drives business travel revenue. Manufacturing still exists—electronics, aerospace components—but it's shrinking. Most locals work in service industries: hotels, restaurants, retail around the resort district. Tech jobs exist but you'll likely commute to Irvine or LA. Median household income sits around $65,000, decent for Orange County but tight given housing costs.

Expect $2,450/month for a one-bedroom in the city center, though you can find cheaper options further from Disneyland at $1,800-2,000. No metro rail yet, so you'll need a car—traffic on the 5 and 91 freeways is genuinely awful during rush hours. Healthcare access is solid with several major hospital systems. Spanish helps significantly given the 53% Latino population, but English works fine for official business. City bureaucracy moves at typical California speed: slow but functional.

Year-round mild weather makes outdoor activities viable, though summer heat hits 85-90°F regularly. Food scene leans heavily Mexican and Vietnamese, with solid options beyond tourist traps if you venture past the resort area. Weekend activities center on beaches (20 minutes), mountains (45 minutes), or LA attractions (45 minutes in good traffic). The expat community is small—mostly domestic transplants and some international Disney employees. This works best for families wanting suburban Orange County life with theme park perks, not digital nomads or urban professionals.