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Living in
Placentia.
About
Life in Placentia
Living in Placentia means being part of a solidly middle to upper-middle-class suburban community that functions primarily as a place to raise a family rather than chase entertainment. The median home price sits at $921,000 and rents average $2,388 monthly, which is steep by national standards but typical for inland Orange County. You'll have decent job access through the Los Angeles metro area, though your 29-minute average commute suggests you'll likely be driving to work—the freeways here are a constant reality, though the city pioneered a "quiet zone" to minimize train horn noise from the cargo trains passing through daily.
Placentia at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
24.0%
Broadband Internet
95.2%
of households
Population Growth
+4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Placentia: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Placentia, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (34.8%), and 23.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.3%
of residents
65 and Older
15.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.7%
of households
Married Couples
56.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.04
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 17% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Placentia
In Placentia, rent runs 17% above the CA average, and home values are 25% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,159
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,101,368 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Placentia and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Placentia is 1.4 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 Placentia 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
Commute26.6 min avg
How Placentia residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Placentia, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 32 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 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Placentia runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
244.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,211.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Placentia 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 Placentia, 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.
187 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Placentia 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 Placentia, 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
Placentia is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Placentia has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 49°F | 3.16" |
| Feb | 71°F | 49°F | 3.05" |
| Mar | 74°F | 51°F | 1.80" |
| Apr | 77°F | 54°F | 0.70" |
| May | 78°F | 58°F | 0.41" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 0.11" |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 88°F | 64°F | 0.15" |
| Oct | 83°F | 59°F | 0.62" |
| Nov | 77°F | 53°F | 1.01" |
| Dec | 71°F | 48°F | 2.39" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Placentia
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Placentia's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Anaheim
Providence St. Jude Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Fullerton
Ahmc Anaheim Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.1 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.
Education23.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Placentia
Placentia's student/teacher ratio is 23.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 44.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Placentia (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
1.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 26,140 students · in-state tuition $1,364 · 35% graduate · median earnings $49,600 (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)
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, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Placentia
Placentia has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
36 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
55 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Placentia
Placentia Library District
411 E. Chapman Ave., Placentia
Cities Near Placentia
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Placentia?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Placentia FAQ
Is Placentia, California affordable?⌄
Placentia's median rent is $2,388/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $115,929/year. Median home value is $921,000.
Is Placentia, California safe?⌄
Placentia's violent crime rate was 245 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1211 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Placentia, California?⌄
Placentia has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Placentia, California?⌄
The cost of living in Placentia is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,388/month and median household income is $115,929/year. The median home value is $921,000. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Placentia, California?⌄
The average commute in Placentia is 27 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