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Living in
Rancho Mission Viejo.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Rancho Mission Viejo is an unincorporated community in Orange County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Rancho Mission Viejo
Rancho Mission Viejo is a community of 11,355 people in California. The median household income is $192,813, median rent runs about $3,501 per month, and median home values are around $1,110,100. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Rancho Mission Viejo at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Foreign-Born
15.5%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Median household income
Demographics15.5% foreign-born, most often from Ukraine
Who lives in Rancho Mission Viejo: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rancho Mission Viejo, the largest foreign-born group is from Ukraine (9.5%), and 5.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
28.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.1%
of households
Married Couples
62.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.62
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 72% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Rancho Mission Viejo
In Rancho Mission Viejo, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 51% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
40.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
75.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2015
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,194,986 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Rancho Mission Viejo and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Orange County, which includes Rancho Mission Viejo, is 1.4 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Rancho Mission Viejo: Orange County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Orange County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rancho Mission Viejo is less than 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rancho Mission Viejo 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
Commute29 min avg
How Rancho Mission Viejo residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rancho Mission Viejo, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 56 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 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, which covers Rancho Mission Viejo, runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
290.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
575.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Orange County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Rancho Mission Viejo, 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.
147 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Rancho Mission Viejo 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 Rancho Mission Viejo, 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
Rancho Mission Viejo 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
Rancho Mission Viejo 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 Rancho Mission Viejo
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rancho Mission Viejo's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6 mi away · Mission Viejo
Children's Hospital at Mission
Childrens · ER available · 6 mi away · Mission Viejo
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric · 9.2 mi away · Aliso Viejo
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.
Education22.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rancho Mission Viejo
Rancho Mission Viejo's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 62.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rancho Mission Viejo (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 17,684 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 29% graduate · median earnings $51,222 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts Global
9.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Laguna College of Art and Design
11.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 746 students · in-state tuition $39,376 · 64% graduate · median earnings $49,168 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 484 students · in-state tuition $39,536 · 88% graduate · median earnings $66,071 (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, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rancho Mission Viejo
Rancho Mission Viejo has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
32 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
62 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
79 mi awayCities Near Rancho Mission Viejo
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rancho Mission Viejo?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rancho Mission Viejo FAQ
Is Rancho Mission Viejo, California affordable?⌄
Rancho Mission Viejo's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $192,813/year. Median home value is $1,110,100.
Is Rancho Mission Viejo, California safe?⌄
Rancho Mission Viejo is policed by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 290 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 576 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rancho Mission Viejo, California?⌄
Orange County, which includes Rancho Mission Viejo, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rancho Mission Viejo, California?⌄
The cost of living in Rancho Mission Viejo is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $192,813/year. The median home value is $1,110,100. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rancho Mission Viejo, California?⌄
The average commute in Rancho Mission Viejo 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