Orange
California

What stands out

What stands out about Orange County: the median home price is among the priciest in America ($1.2M), the typical two-bedroom rent is among the highest in America ($2,259 a month), and natural-hazard risk is among the riskiest in America (100 of 100). Within California it ranks 5th of 58 counties for the median home price.

Where you are

You live in Orange County, California. 3,175,227 people live here with you, which makes it one of the country's big urban counties. The population shrank 0.5% last year.

California's 13.3% top income-tax rate applies only to income above roughly $1 million, and Proposition 13 caps property-tax growth at 2% a year for as long as you own the home, so long-time owners pay far less than new buyers on identical houses. Wildfire risk now drives insurance availability in much of the state, and several major carriers have stopped writing new homeowner policies.

Money

The typical household here brings in $109,361 a year, higher than 98% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $81,403. Unemployment runs 3.2%, lower than 59% of American counties. 15% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 23 minutes each way.

California takes 6.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $6,609 a year.

Home

The median home costs $1.2M, pricier than almost every county in America, about 7.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $2,259 a month. Property tax is 0.68% of home value, roughly $5,822 a year on that median home, lower than 68% of American counties. 57% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, lower than 89% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 17 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 81.8 years, longer than 97% of American counties. There are 12,846 active physicians in the county, about 40.5 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 6.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.04 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 52% of American counties. 87% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted almost evenly. 73% of eligible voters turned out. Under California law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 65°F, highs near 75 and lows near 55, warmer than 83% of American counties. About 15 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 100 out of 100, riskier than almost every county in America; the county has had 42 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 272 Mbps down, faster than 85% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 58 breweries, 38 museums.