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Living in
Laguna Woods.
About
Life in Laguna Woods
Here's what you need to know about actually living in Laguna Woods: this is fundamentally a retirement community where about 90 percent of the city is Laguna Woods Village, a gated residential area originally developed as Leisure World. The median age here is 74.5 years old, which tells you everything about the community's character and what daily life looks like—it's quiet, deliberately so, and the pace is nothing like a typical Orange County city. If you're moving here to be around young families, active nightlife, or bustling commercial districts, this isn't the place; the 0.6 percent of residents under 18 makes that clear.
Laguna Woods at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
74.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Foreign-Born
32.3%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
-4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.3% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Laguna Woods: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Laguna Woods, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (22.8%), and 8.5% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
0.4%
of residents
65 and Older
83.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
0.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
57.2%
of households
Married Couples
32.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.47
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 14% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Laguna Woods
In Laguna Woods, rent runs 14% above the CA average, and home values are 46% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
68.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
47.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,713
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $458,736 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Laguna Woods and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes Laguna Woods, is 1.4 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Laguna Woods: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Laguna Woods is less than 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Laguna Woods 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
Commute19.8 min avg
How Laguna Woods residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Laguna Woods, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 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 78% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Laguna Woods runs 78% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
70.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
638.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Laguna Woods 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 Laguna Woods, 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
Laguna Woods 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 Laguna Woods, 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
Laguna Woods is less than 1% 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
Laguna Woods 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
15.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
50
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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Laguna Woods
Uninsured
1.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Laguna Woods's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.2 mi away · Laguna Hills
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric · 3.2 mi away · Aliso Viejo
Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.4 mi away · Irvine
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.
Education50.9% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Laguna Woods
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Laguna Woods (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
6.9 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 · 10,579 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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,478 students · in-state tuition $67,894 · 82% graduate · median earnings $80,694 (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)
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, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
34 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
69 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods Library
24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods
Cities Near Laguna Woods
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Laguna Woods?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Laguna Woods FAQ
Is Laguna Woods, California affordable?⌄
Laguna Woods's median rent is $2,328/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $59,269/year. Median home value is $394,600.
Is Laguna Woods, California safe?⌄
Laguna Woods's violent crime rate was 71 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 638 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Laguna Woods, California?⌄
Orange County, which includes Laguna Woods, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Laguna Woods, California?⌄
The cost of living in Laguna Woods is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,328/month and median household income is $59,269/year. The median home value is $394,600. About 69% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Laguna Woods, California?⌄
The average commute in Laguna Woods is 20 minutes, which is shorter 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