RANK #572 / 996 · POP 3,175,227 · CA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.5%
Orange County, California, is known for its coastline, with Huntington Beach recognized for surfing and Newport Beach for its harbor and yachts. Situated in Southern California, between Los Angeles and San Diego counties, it offers a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers, making outdoor activities popular year-round. The county features over 30,000 acres of parkland and 230 miles of trails, including Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and water sports. Commuting often involves major freeways, though public transportation options like OCTA buses and Metrolink trains are available.
Life in Orange County often appeals to families and professionals, with many master-planned communities like Irvine known for their schools and safety. The economy is diverse, with significant investment in sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, information technology, and advanced transportation. New industries, including space travel and electric vehicles, are establishing headquarters in the county, contributing to job growth. Despite a high cost of living, the region's amenities and job market attract residents.
Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Well below national median
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 9.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Santa Ana Energy Storage Project
Calpine
|
$320M | Operating |
|
Grace Orchard Energy Center (Solar-plus-battery storage)
Grace Orchard Energy Center, LLC / Orange County Power Authority (OCPA)
|
$120M | Planned |
|
Huntington Beach Generating Station (Extension of Seawater-Cooled Units)
AES
|
$50M | Operating |
|
OC Public Works Capital Improvement Program (Road, Bridge, Flood, Bikeway, Animal Care, Library, Parks, Housing, Community Development Projects)
OC Public Works
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Orange County has a Boom Town Index score of 43/100, ranking #572 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.0% and a median household income of $109,361, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Orange County is $862,900 with median rent at $2,248/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1267, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.0%. Home values changed +0.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.66% of Orange County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.