What it's like to live in Laguna Woods
Laguna Woods is a small city in California with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Laguna Woods deals with rent well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
How Laguna Woods compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Laguna Woods
Based on Laguna Woods's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,656
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $93,120 a year
- 69% of Laguna Woods renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,460
- Homes cost 6.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 65% above US
$2,328/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,328 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $394,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $394,600 · 69% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Orange County is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Orange County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 78% below US
71 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 638/100k · Laguna Woods Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 44°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 41% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
0 public schools inside the boundary
No public school is located inside the boundary; students attend schools in the surrounding district. There is 1 private school inside it.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (34 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Laguna Woods's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($2,328/mo) equals 47% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Laguna Woods
All California guides →Moving to Aliso Viejo →
2 mi away · pop. 51,113
Rent $2,854/mo · Income $142,439
Compare with Laguna Woods →Moving to Laguna Hills →
2 mi away · pop. 30,740
Rent $2,728/mo · Income $128,851
Compare with Laguna Woods →Moving to Mission Viejo →
4 mi away · pop. 92,151
Rent $2,839/mo · Income $136,123
Compare with Laguna Woods →Moving to Laguna Beach →
5 mi away · pop. 22,710
Rent $2,986/mo · Income $143,843
Compare with Laguna Woods →Not sure Laguna Woods is the one?
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