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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Orange County

California · 3,186,989 residents · 792.861 sq mi
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The short version

Orange County is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $94,441. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $703,800.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.8
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,186,989
+12%since 2000
from 2,846,289 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,020 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 3,590 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.0
+17%since 2000
from 33.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2.3M2.6M2.8M3.0M3.3M1990201020202024Orange County
20243.2M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$94,441
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,820 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,049
+67%since 2000
from $25,826 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
59.9%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
10.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade11.9%
US avg: 10%
Information10.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services8.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$703,800
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $253,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,928
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $923 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
56.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 61.4% in 2000
43.9% rent
Afford Score
7.5
+73%since 2000
from 4.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Orange County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic51.3%(1,458,978)
Black1.5%(42,639)
Hispanic / Latino30.8%(875,579)
Asian13.5%(383,810)
Other0%
Diversity Score75.1%(2,136,993)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic37.6%(1,198,655)
Black1.5%(49,304)
Hispanic / Latino34.1%(1,086,834)
Asian21.9%(699,124)
Other4%(126,437)
Diversity Score85.9%(2,737,234)
Segregation Score42.6%(1,358,546)
Diversity Score
86
+14%since 2000
from 75 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
43
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.2%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 30.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.0%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.0 min
+48%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
76.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 77.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 67.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
43.6%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
29.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.1%
−75.6 ptssince 2013
from 82.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Orange County

San Diego County
Pop 3,282,248
King County
Pop 2,344,939
Riverside County
Pop 2,544,916
Kings County
Pop 2,653,963
Places similar to Orange County
Head to head

Compare Orange County to nearby counties

ORANGE COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income$90,112−5%
Home value$834,200+19%
Population9,694,934+208%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
San Diego County
Income$106,268+13%
Home value$854,700+21%
Population3,282,248+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
Ventura County
Income$109,797+16%
Home value$822,700+17%
Population830,851−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ORANGE COUNTY VS
Riverside County
Income$93,074−1%
Home value$557,300−21%
Population2,544,916−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Orange County, California?

Orange County, California has about 3,186,989 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Orange County, California?

The typical household in Orange County, California earns about $94,441 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Orange County, California expensive?

In Orange County, California, the median home is worth about $703,800, and the typical rent is about $1,928 a month.

How educated are people in Orange County, California?

About 41.2% of adults age 25 and over in Orange County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Orange County, California?

About 10.1% of people in Orange County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Orange County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Orange County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 776,433 residents, a change of about 32 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

614 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 626.14Census Tract 524.30Census Tract 524.33Census Tract 863.03Census Tract 524.39Census Tract 626.10Census Tract 524.22Census Tract 755.16Census Tract 755.18Census Tract 320.49Census Tract 422.03Census Tract 218.22Census Tract 524.21Census Tract 748.03Census Tract 761.03Census Tract 320.66Census Tract 1106.04Census Tract 524.29Census Tract 320.59Census Tract 218.02
88 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 92683ZIP 92804ZIP 92704ZIP 92805ZIP 90631ZIP 92630ZIP 92618ZIP 92677ZIP 92703ZIP 92620ZIP 92801ZIP 92627ZIP 92647ZIP 92707ZIP 92708ZIP 92646ZIP 92840ZIP 92780ZIP 92870ZIP 92656ZIP 92833ZIP 92626ZIP 92886ZIP 90630ZIP 92705ZIP 92701ZIP 92692ZIP 90620ZIP 92843ZIP 92691
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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