Anaheim
RANK #360 / 1001 NAT · #27 / 43 CA · POP 3,165,820
1YR FORECAST: +3.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: -2%
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.
Orange County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.7% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 21.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Orange County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $116,289 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in CA.
Affordability is a real challenge in Orange County. The median home is valued at $962,600 — with an income-to-home-value ratio of just 0.12, that's significantly harder to afford than in most U.S. counties. Median rent runs $2,434/month.
Population and employment in Orange County are both close to flat — population +0.1% YoY and jobs +0.1%. Home values shifted +1.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.56% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Orange County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.