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Living in
La Palma.
About
Life in La Palma
This tight-knit community of just over 15,000 people in northern Orange County offers a fundamentally different living experience than the sprawling suburbs surrounding it—you're dealing with real density packed into just 1.8 square miles, which means walkability in some areas but also less elbow room and constant car dependency for most errands and work commutes. The median household income sits at a solid $117,989, but you'll be paying for that stability: median home values hover near $974,000 and rent runs about $2,262 a month, which is steep even for Orange County standards, reflecting both the area's desirability and its scarcity of available housing. What actually keeps people here is the community itself: nearly 51% of residents are Asian, with a growing Latino community, and about 61% of households are married couples with children, making this very much a place where families put down roots, with a median age of 44 and strong ownership rates of 68%, suggesting long-term stability rather than transient living.
La Palma at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Foreign-Born
37.7%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
-4.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics37.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in La Palma: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In La Palma, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (30.9%), and 11.5% of residents speak Korean at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
20.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.8%
of households
Married Couples
60.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.98
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 11% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in La Palma
In La Palma, rent runs 11% above the CA average, and home values are 33% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,959
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,185,448 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in La Palma and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes La Palma, is 1.4 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
La Palma: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
La Palma is less than 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What La Palma 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
Commute32.5 min avg
How La Palma residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In La Palma, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 16 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 22 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 51% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in La Palma runs 51% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
160.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,228.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
La Palma 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 La Palma, 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.
123 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
La Palma is less than 1% 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 La Palma, 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
La Palma is less than 1% 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
La Palma 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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in La Palma
La Palma has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
La Palma Intercommunity Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Anaheim Community Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 3 mi away · Anaheim
West Anaheim Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.1 mi away · Anaheim
Uci Health - Los Alamitos
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Los Alamitos
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.
Education23.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in La Palma
La Palma's student/teacher ratio is 23.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near La Palma (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
9.2 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
6.2 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
12.4 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 · 9,034 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 29% graduate · median earnings $50,592 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,478 students · in-state tuition $67,894 · 82% graduate · median earnings $80,694 (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: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for La Palma
La Palma has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
45 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
47 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in La Palma
La Palma Branch Library
7842 Walker St., La Palma
Cities Near La Palma
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to La Palma?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
La Palma FAQ
Is La Palma, California affordable?⌄
La Palma's median rent is $2,262/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $117,989/year. Median home value is $973,600.
Is La Palma, California safe?⌄
La Palma's violent crime rate was 160 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 1229 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in La Palma, California?⌄
Orange County, which includes La Palma, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in La Palma, California?⌄
The cost of living in La Palma is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,262/month and median household income is $117,989/year. The median home value is $973,600. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in La Palma, California?⌄
The average commute in La Palma is 33 minutes, which is longer than 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