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Living in
Fountain Valley.
About
Life in Fountain Valley
If you're considering Fountain Valley, know that you're looking at a solidly middle-to-upper-middle-class suburban community with strong fundamentals but real commute trade-offs. The median home price hovers around $1 million and rents are steep at $2,600 monthly, reflecting Orange County's overall cost structure—you're paying for proximity to job centers and established neighborhoods, not for dramatic scenery or a unique character. The job market here is actually better than many suburbs thanks to corporate headquarters like Hyundai and Kingston Technology locating locally, plus the growing Southpark commercial district, which means some people can work near home, though many still commute 26 minutes on average to surrounding job centers.
Fountain Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Foreign-Born
32.9%
Broadband Internet
94.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.9% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Fountain Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fountain Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (48.3%), and 22.2% of residents speak Vietnamese at home.
Under 18
19.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.6%
of households
Married Couples
56.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.97
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 29% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Fountain Valley
In Fountain Valley, rent runs 29% above the CA average, and home values are 46% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
61.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,975
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,377,121 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Fountain Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fountain Valley is 1 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 Fountain Valley 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
Commute26 min avg
How Fountain Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fountain Valley, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 30 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 47% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Fountain Valley runs 47% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
175.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,587.6
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley, 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.
125 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley, 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
Fountain Valley is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fountain Valley has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
41
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 49°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 67°F | 50°F | 2.64" |
| Mar | 68°F | 52°F | 1.62" |
| Apr | 70°F | 55°F | 0.52" |
| May | 71°F | 59°F | 0.27" |
| Jun | 74°F | 63°F | 0.01" |
| Jul | 79°F | 66°F | 0.04" |
| Aug | 80°F | 67°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 80°F | 65°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 77°F | 59°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 72°F | 53°F | 0.80" |
| Dec | 67°F | 48°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley has 2 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Memorialcare Orange Coast Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Uci Health - Fountain Valley
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Huntington Beach Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · Huntington Beach
Coastal Communities Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.8 mi away · Santa Ana
College Hospital Costa Mesa
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.6 mi away · Costa Mesa
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.
Education23.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley's student/teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 46.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Fountain Valley
Public · 2-year · 7,393 students · in-state tuition $1,186 · 18% graduate · median earnings $51,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
12.4 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
10.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
University of California-Irvine
7.6 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 · 17,121 students · in-state tuition $1,150 · 28% graduate · median earnings $49,216 (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 · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (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, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
43 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
54 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fountain Valley
Fountain Valley Branch Library
17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley
Cities Near Fountain Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fountain Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fountain Valley FAQ
Is Fountain Valley, California affordable?⌄
Fountain Valley's median rent is $2,631/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $115,237/year. Median home value is $1,072,300.
Is Fountain Valley, California safe?⌄
Fountain Valley's violent crime rate was 176 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 1588 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fountain Valley, California?⌄
Fountain Valley has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fountain Valley, California?⌄
The cost of living in Fountain Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,631/month and median household income is $115,237/year. The median home value is $1,072,300. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fountain Valley, California?⌄
The average commute in Fountain Valley is 26 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