© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Buena Park.
About
Life in Buena Park
Buena Park is a solidly middle to upper-middle class suburban community where you'll find a real blend of cultures—significant Asian and Latino populations shape the local character, with Korean shopping centers and diverse dining options reflecting that mix. The median household income sits at $110,550, which is comfortable, though that comes with a trade-off: median home values around $838,800 and rents averaging $2,206 a month mean housing isn't cheap. The job market is relatively stable with 4.2% unemployment, and while Knott's Berry Farm and other attractions drive some economic activity, most residents commute out for work—plan on about 29 minutes average.
Buena Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.8%
Foreign-Born
34.8%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics34.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Buena Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Buena Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (30.0%), and 25.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
13.4%
of households
Married Couples
55.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.37
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 8% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Buena Park
In Buena Park, rent runs 8% above the CA average, and home values are 14% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,926
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $928,677 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Buena Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Buena Park is 1.3 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 Buena Park 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
Commute28.8 min avg
How Buena Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Buena Park, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 15 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 24 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 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Buena Park runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
280.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,995.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Buena Park 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 Buena Park, 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.
126 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Buena Park is about 3% 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 Buena Park, 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
Buena Park is about 3% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Buena Park has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
38
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 46°F | 2.85" |
| Feb | 69°F | 48°F | 3.02" |
| Mar | 71°F | 52°F | 1.74" |
| Apr | 74°F | 54°F | 0.59" |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 0.30" |
| Jun | 79°F | 63°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 84°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 85°F | 65°F | 0.14" |
| Oct | 80°F | 58°F | 0.50" |
| Nov | 74°F | 51°F | 0.74" |
| Dec | 68°F | 46°F | 1.86" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Buena Park
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Buena Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
La Palma Intercommunity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.1 mi away · La Palma
West Anaheim Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Anaheim
Anaheim Community Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.8 mi away · Anaheim
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.
Education22.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Buena Park
Buena Park's student/teacher ratio is 22.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Buena Park (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Long Beach
8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,121 students · in-state tuition $1,150 · 28% graduate · median earnings $49,216 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Dominguez Hills
14.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 12,538 students · in-state tuition $7,853 · 68% graduate · median earnings $62,587 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,579 students · in-state tuition $1,160 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,421 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 9,034 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 29% graduate · median earnings $50,592 (10 yrs after entry)
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, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Buena Park
Buena Park has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
45 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
47 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Buena Park
Buena Park Library District
7150 La Palma Ave., Buena Park
Cities Near Buena Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Buena Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Buena Park FAQ
Is Buena Park, California affordable?⌄
Buena Park's median rent is $2,206/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $110,550/year. Median home value is $838,800.
Is Buena Park, California safe?⌄
Buena Park's violent crime rate was 281 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1995 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Buena Park, California?⌄
Buena Park has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Buena Park, California?⌄
The cost of living in Buena Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,206/month and median household income is $110,550/year. The median home value is $838,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Buena Park, California?⌄
The average commute in Buena Park is 29 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