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Living in
San Juan Capistrano.
About
Life in San Juan Capistrano
This is a solidly affluent Orange County suburb where you're paying premium Southern California prices—homes averaging around $990,000 and rent at $2,500 monthly—for a established, family-oriented community. The mission and cliff swallows draw tourists, but day-to-day life revolves around good schools, stable employment (3.6% unemployment as of late 2024), and comfortable suburban living with about 2,000 local businesses. Your commute will likely average 27 minutes, and you'll be car-dependent despite having Amtrak and Metrolink access downtown—Interstate 5 cuts through the city and dominates transportation patterns.
San Juan Capistrano at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
17.4%
Broadband Internet
95.7%
of households
Population Growth
-0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in San Juan Capistrano: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In San Juan Capistrano, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.9%), and 27.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
21.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.1%
of households
Married Couples
63.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.84
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 20% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in San Juan Capistrano
In San Juan Capistrano, rent runs 20% above the CA average, and home values are 35% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,603
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
81.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,339,804 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in San Juan Capistrano and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Juan Capistrano is 1.9 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 San Juan Capistrano 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
Commute26.5 min avg
How San Juan Capistrano residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In San Juan Capistrano, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 53 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in San Juan Capistrano runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
168.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
711.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
San Juan Capistrano 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 San Juan Capistrano, 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.
146 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
San Juan Capistrano is about 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 San Juan Capistrano, 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
San Juan Capistrano is about 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
San Juan Capistrano 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 San Juan Capistrano
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside San Juan Capistrano's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Mission Viejo
Children's Hospital at Mission
Childrens · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Mission Viejo
Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, Llc
Psychiatric · 6 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.
Education24.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano's student/teacher ratio is 24.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 43.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
10
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near San Juan Capistrano (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
14.8 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 · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts Global
7.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,536 students · in-state tuition $44,500 · 63% graduate · median earnings $72,184 (10 yrs after entry)
Laguna College of Art and Design
8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 746 students · in-state tuition $39,376 · 64% graduate · median earnings $49,168 (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 San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano 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 awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
62 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano Regional Library
31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Cities Near San Juan Capistrano
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to San Juan Capistrano?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
San Juan Capistrano FAQ
Is San Juan Capistrano, California affordable?⌄
San Juan Capistrano's median rent is $2,438/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $129,457/year. Median home value is $993,800.
Is San Juan Capistrano, California safe?⌄
San Juan Capistrano's violent crime rate was 169 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 712 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in San Juan Capistrano, California?⌄
San Juan Capistrano has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in San Juan Capistrano, California?⌄
The cost of living in San Juan Capistrano is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,438/month and median household income is $129,457/year. The median home value is $993,800. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in San Juan Capistrano, California?⌄
The average commute in San Juan Capistrano 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