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County

Orange County

#5 in Best Counties to Live in California
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • County in California
  • 116 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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Population
3,132,211

Real Estate

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

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
    133
    283
  • Murder
    2
    6
  • Rape
    25
    41
  • Robbery
    69
    136
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    349
    500
  • Theft
    1,469
    2,043
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    272
    284

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

    116 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.
    Orange County is a diversified culture where ongoing relationships between people of different race, ethnicity, age, religion, economic background, etc., is seen on a daily basis. The amount of opportunities and hobbies are endless. Being able to go the the beach, mountains, hills or the county within the same county is rare, but here in Orange County that can be done. There is no reason why one can claim that they are bored here. Old towns, modernized cultures, historic landfalls and incredible views are what makes people come and stay. As such, there is always an issue that may be of concern with a lot of people: cost of living. As expected, one will not obtain what was referenced above on a minimum age without the assistance of a partner or roommate. Most people can see that as a negative, but it is what inspires those who were raised here to work harder to be able to maintain a living in this wonderful place.