Various areas within the county are incredibly different. Sure, overall, politics comes out Republican, but each community has its own "vibe".
I lived in San Clemente at the southern-most border (its grown a lot since, suburbs expanded over the hills where I used to jog with coyotes and roadrunners). Very nice, laid back, artist and beach community.
I then lived in Laguna Niguel, which is pretty new sprawl into the hills between Dana Point & Laguna Beach and I-5 and Irvine.
As other poster said, weather is best in the WORLD. Nice days, morning after morning, unless El Nino year of course. Only bad time I had was when Santa Ana winds were really bad and collected all the smog from whole LA basin to blow offshore right through San Clemente and it was literally night in the day, brown air, tearing eyes, coughing. But that was 2 days out of 3 years, rare. Usually, beautiful.
So, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano are the older mission town areas, laid back. In between are newer communities typical of LA/OC suburb sprawl with nice homes, apartments, condos, dining, etc.. Northern OC is just a big part of ther overall LA sprawl. Anaheim, Orange, Santa Ana, on up north, just same big flat sprawl.
Stay ocean-side of I-405 for best air, I recommend live in southern parts of the county. If you can, Dana Point, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo. If you must be farther north, then Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach. If you go inland, not as nice but cheaper and "normal" LA area. I say "Irvine or south". Also not that far from San Diego either.
Best of luck,
