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Living in
Aliso Viejo.
About
Life in Aliso Viejo
This is a solidly upper-middle-class suburban community where you'll find well-maintained neighborhoods, good schools, and neighbors who tend to be educated professionals. The median home price around $918,000 tells you this isn't an affordable area—you're paying premium Orange County prices—and rent is correspondingly high at around $2,854 monthly. The upside is the unemployment rate hovers near 3.8%, and median household income exceeds $137,000, so if you're employed in tech, finance, or professional services, the economics can work.
Aliso Viejo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Foreign-Born
25.4%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Population Growth
-4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.4% foreign-born, most often from Iran
Who lives in Aliso Viejo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Aliso Viejo, the largest foreign-born group is from Iran (14.3%), and 10.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.9%
of households
Married Couples
52.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 40% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Aliso Viejo
In Aliso Viejo, rent runs 40% above the CA average, and home values are 25% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,034
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $992,406 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Aliso Viejo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Aliso Viejo is 1.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Aliso Viejo Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute25.1 min avg
How Aliso Viejo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Aliso Viejo, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 47 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 64% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Aliso Viejo runs 64% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
119.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
621.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Aliso Viejo Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Aliso Viejo, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
148 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Aliso Viejo is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Aliso Viejo, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Aliso Viejo is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Aliso Viejo has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
31
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 44°F | 2.78" |
| Feb | 68°F | 45°F | 3.39" |
| Mar | 69°F | 48°F | 1.62" |
| Apr | 73°F | 50°F | 0.80" |
| May | 75°F | 55°F | 0.20" |
| Jun | 76°F | 58°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 0.11" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 0.16" |
| Oct | 77°F | 55°F | 0.49" |
| Nov | 72°F | 49°F | 1.13" |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.87" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.2%
of residents
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Laguna Hills
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Mission Viejo
Children's Hospital at Mission
Childrens · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Mission Viejo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 57.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
57.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Aliso Viejo
University of Massachusetts Global
Public · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 484 students · in-state tuition $39,536 · 88% graduate · median earnings $66,071 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,197 students · in-state tuition $16,235 · 88% graduate · median earnings $83,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,684 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 29% graduate · median earnings $51,222 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,393 students · in-state tuition $1,186 · 18% graduate · median earnings $51,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,643 students · 63% graduate · median earnings $67,293 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,363 students · in-state tuition $18,558 · 43% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
35 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo Branch Library
1 Journey, Aliso Viejo
Cities Near Aliso Viejo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Aliso Viejo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Aliso Viejo FAQ
Is Aliso Viejo, California affordable?⌄
Aliso Viejo's median rent is $2,854/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $142,439/year. Median home value is $917,900.
Is Aliso Viejo, California safe?⌄
Aliso Viejo's violent crime rate was 120 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 621 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Aliso Viejo, California?⌄
Aliso Viejo has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Aliso Viejo, California?⌄
The cost of living in Aliso Viejo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,854/month and median household income is $142,439/year. The median home value is $917,900. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Aliso Viejo, California?⌄
The average commute in Aliso Viejo is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from