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County

Orange County

#5 in Best Counties to Live in California
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • County in California
  • 124 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A
  2. Crime & Safety
    B-
  3. Housing
    D
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A-
  6. Diversity
    A+
  7. Jobs
    B-
  8. Weather
    A+
  9. Cost of Living
    D-
  10. Health & Fitness
    A+
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    B
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Orange County is located in California with a population of 3,132,211. Orange County is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Orange County offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Orange County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Orange County and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Orange County are highly rated.
Population
3,132,211

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$584,200
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,608
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    43%
  • Own
    57%
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Orange County Rankings

Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
B-
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    130
    283
  • Murder
    2
    6
  • Rape
    26
    41
  • Robbery
    80
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    323
    500
  • Theft
    1,471
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    279
    284
Home Security Options for Orange County
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  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
A+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Median Household Income
$78,145
National
$55,322
Children
19%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    14%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    29%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    17%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    15%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

    Orange County Reviews

    124 reviews
    All Categories
    Orange County is an awesome county to live in! So much culture here and diversity from places all over the world. There are literally all walks of life and ways to experience the county. Whether you want to dive into the local hole in the wall Mexican joints, or tour down some Indian artwork and taste their dishes custom to south and west India. There is something for everyone! Want to go surfing? Want to check out the museums? Want to go on a nature walk? You name it, you can probably find it in Orange County! So what are you waiting for? Grab a bag and strap up your boots, adventure awaits!
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    Orange County, California is a great place to live! The warm weather and high level of diversity make the county a favorable area. Orange County is an overall enjoyable area, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to settle into a busy but not highly overcrowded city atmosphere. There are tons of great things to do around Orange County, and it is located near Los Angeles for anyone looking to live near that area.
    The things I like about Orange County is that there is a lot of diversity. There is a lot of places to go too. For example family parks, like Disneyland Resort, Knott's Very Farm, The Great Wolf Lodge and many more. Not only the amusement parks but the variety of restaurants that are all over Orange County. There is always law enforcement making sure people are safe. Orange County gets a lot of tourists from all over the world, this is due to the amusement parks, Angel's stadium, and the hotels, etc... It is really awesome to meet people that come from different places because you get to learn about their cultures and languages. Also, Orange County is involved in helping out the community in any way possible. So if you have not stopped by Orange County what are you waiting for? Do it and when you do, I am telling you, you will have a great time.