Learn more about the richest cities of Orange County, California, based on median household income, average home sales price, and cost of living.
A new study from PropertyShark found that California is home to roughly 70% of the most expensive zip codes in the entire county, 89 of the 127. And that’s grown three percentage points over just the last year. Nine of the 10 NerdWallet-termed “wealthiest” cities in the nation were also in California – several right here in Southern California.
For this list, we pulled city data from Data USA, as well as our local market reports.
Newport Beach
Newport Beach is home to some of the richest neighborhoods in Southern California, including Newport Coast with a current average sales price of $6,852,269. From quaint Balboa Island to the grand estates of Pelican Hill and Cameo Highlands, the city simply oozes wealth. Check out our guide to Newport Beach neighborhoods. But the city has more than just impressive real estate. Driving down Pacific Coast Highway you will find Crystal Cove State Park with several hiking trails and tide pools to explore, and renting bikes along Newport Peninsula is a classic way to spend a sunny summer day.
The median household income in Newport is $127,223 with a poverty rate of 7.13%. Newport Beach also made our list of the top suburbs to live in Orange County. For a bit of local history, check out Beachcomber restaurant (or some of the other best restaurants in Newport Beach), located on the sand in Crystal Cove, and sneak a peek of the vintage cottages. Built as a seaside colony in the early 20th century, Crystal Cove’s Historic District is still open to visitors, but the coveted reservations fill up as soon as they become available so you’ve got to act fast.
Laguna Niguel
With a median household income of $108,537 and a poverty rate of just 7.17%, Laguna Niguel is one of the richest cities in Orange County. One of the safest cities in Orange County as well, Laguna Niguel is safer than 60% of U.S. cities. Located just inland of Dana Point, residents are drawn to Laguna Niguel for the beautiful hillside homes and the stunning ocean views they offer. In a place as naturally gifted as this city, some of the best things to do in Laguna Niguel are outdoor activities. Salt Creek Trail is a popular place for a morning walk to enjoy some beach views, and tons of people use the trial to walk their dogs as well.
Heisler Park is another popular place to enjoy ocean views. Stretching from Diver’s Cove to Aster Street along the bluffs of Cliff Drive, the park is a popular wedding venue and you can enjoy lawn bowling greens, barbecues, and picnic tables.
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda was previously listed sixth among the nation’s 20 wealthiest large cities with a median income of $117,368 and a poverty rate of just 4.52%. Median home values are currently $1.2 million, with tons of sprawling single-family homes that can accommodate large multi-generational families, and any fabulous hobbies you may have including horses and cars. With so many equestrian estates in the area, you will also find plenty of horse trails to enjoy among all of the other fun things to do in Yorba Linda.
Located in inland Orange County on the border of Riverside County, the city offers residents much more space to spread out than the other communities on our list. Other nearby luxurious cities include Villa Park, Anaheim Hills, and Orange Park Estates.
Dana Point
We think Dana Point is one of the best places to live in Southern California. The current average sales price is up to $4,866,500, but surprisingly, the median household income is only $99,409. With a poverty rate of only 5.24%, the city is synonymous with high-end resorts. The official motto of Dana Point is “Harboring the Good Life,” and the city is characterized by nearly seven miles of bluffs and rolling hills along the coast.
World-class resorts in Dana Point include Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Ritz Carlton, and St. Regis. Unlike Huntington Beach which is a sprawling town with just the tip of the city along California’s coastline, Dana Point is much smaller with nearly every home offering white water ocean views. Check out our Dana Point neighborhood guide.
Laguna Beach
No surprise that rounding out our list is another wealthy beach city. While Laguna Beach is much more laidback than posh Newport Beach, the average sales price last month was still a whopping $3,453,361. The city has a median household income of $129,983 and a poverty rate of 6.32%, which has been decreasing recently. Known for its vibrant art scene and summer art festivals, Laguna Beach also offers plenty of hiking trails and amazing places to eat.
Homes for sale in Laguna Beach range from mega-mansions with ocean views, to vintage beach cottages in The Village. The city’s quirky style is also reflected in unique homes like The Ark, designed to resemble a ship with portholes, ropework handrails, rough-hewn timber beams, and a “Crow’s Nest” detached guest suite.
What city in California has the most millionaires?
It’s no surprise, San Francisco takes the cake for the city with the highest number of millionaires – and billionaires – in California. While Southern California has plenty of extremely wealthy residents, the bay area is filled with tech companies and the most millionaires in the golden state.
A total of 41 billionaires live in San Francisco and have a combined net worth of $173.8 billion. LA comes in second with a total of 25 billionaires in the city who are worth a combined $98.8 billion.
Want to move to Orange County? Contact the Orange County real estate experts at First Team Real Estate.
