Orange County neighborhoods compared
Orange County is made up of cities plus unincorporated census places such as Ladera Ranch, Coto de Caza, North Tustin and Rancho Mission Viejo, so for a county-wide view each city or census place is treated as one area. The table covers 15 of them, from the most to the least expensive on Zillow's typical home value for September 2026. Days on market is Redfin's median for the three months to September; owner share is from the Census American Community Survey (2020 to 2024). Within any city, prices vary a lot by street, so use these as a price level, not a quote.
| Area | Zillow typical value, Sept 2026 | 1-year change | 5-year change | Median days on market (Redfin) | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport Beach | $3,710,827 | +10.1% | +55.9% | 65 | 52.1% |
| Laguna Beach | $3,043,251 | +6.8% | +33.5% | 71 | 66.1% |
| Dana Point | $1,773,166 | +6.8% | +44.9% | 47 | 62.4% |
| North Tustin | $1,751,878 | +4.0% | +40.7% | 42 | 87.2% |
| San Clemente | $1,751,315 | +5.9% | +46.9% | 34 | 66.5% |
| Irvine | $1,481,490 | -1.9% | +53.9% | 61 | 44.5% |
| Costa Mesa | $1,419,109 | +6.4% | +43.3% | 39 | 39.6% |
| Yorba Linda | $1,398,026 | +3.4% | +35.4% | 42 | 83.0% |
| Fountain Valley | $1,377,121 | +6.0% | +47.9% | 27 | 64.8% |
| Huntington Beach | $1,344,725 | +5.6% | +40.5% | 43 | 55.4% |
| Mission Viejo | $1,201,393 | +2.9% | +38.4% | 44 | 76.9% |
| Rancho Mission Viejo | $1,194,986 | +1.1% | +31.9% | 56 | 75.9% |
| Fullerton | $1,037,545 | +3.0% | +28.9% | 40 | 51.8% |
| Anaheim | $941,684 | +3.1% | +27.9% | 41 | 46.2% |
| Santa Ana | $858,641 | +3.7% | +30.3% | 44 | 44.6% |
For reference, Zillow's typical value for the whole county was $1,174,873, up 3.2% in a year.
Orange County neighborhoods, one by one
Newport Beach: harbor, bay and the county's top prices
Newport Beach is the most expensive city in the county on Zillow's index, at $3,710,827, up 10.1% in a year and 55.9% in five. Redfin's three-month median was $3,848,167 on 284 sales, and homes took a median of 65 days, among the slowest in the county, selling for 96.9% of list on average. Only 45.3% of homes are detached houses, because the harbor and peninsula areas are dense with condos and duplexes. OC Parks runs Bayside Beach on Newport Harbor. See the Newport Beach neighborhoods guide for Corona del Mar, Newport Coast and the rest.
Laguna Beach: older homes on a hilly coast
Laguna Beach's typical value was $3,043,251, and Zillow's observed rent of $5,519 a month was the highest of any city in this table. It also has the oldest housing of the coastal cities in this table: 62.5% of homes were built before 1970. Redfin's three-month median of $3,285,935 rose 17.4%, but homes took 71 days and sold at 96.1% of list. Supply ran at 5.4 months, the most of any coastal city. Our Laguna Beach neighborhoods guide covers each area.
Dana Point: harbor town, fast-rising prices
Dana Point's typical value was $1,773,166, up 44.9% in five years. Redfin's three-month median jumped 16.6% to $2,099,000. The county runs Dana Point Harbor, Capistrano Beach and Salt Creek Beach here, and the gated Monarch Beach and Strand at Headlands areas are in the city. About 21.5% of homes predate 1970. See the Dana Point guide.
North Tustin: unincorporated, almost all houses
North Tustin is not a city; it is an unincorporated census place, so county government provides city-type services. It has the highest share of detached houses in this table, 90.8%, and 87.2% of homes are owner-occupied. Most were built before 1970 (65.6%), so expect larger lots and older systems. Zillow's typical value was $1,751,878, and homes sold at 99.5% of list in a median of 42 days.
San Clemente: the southern coast, quick sales
San Clemente's typical value was $1,751,315, close to North Tustin's, but its homes sold faster: a median of 34 days on Redfin's figures, with 2.6 months of supply. Redfin's median rose 4.0% to $1,799,143 on 184 sales. Two-thirds of homes (66.5%) are owner-occupied, the Census median household income is $140,062, and Zillow's observed rent was $3,411.
Irvine: master-planned villages and new homes
Irvine had the most sales in the county, 556 in three months, and more new housing than any other city: 33.1% of its homes were built in 2010 or later. That supply shows in the numbers. Zillow's typical value of $1,481,490 slipped 1.9% in a year, Redfin's median fell 6.5%, and homes took 61 days. New homes are still selling at Great Park Neighborhoods, Portola Springs and Summit at Orchard Hills, and Shady Canyon is the city's guard-gated golf enclave. Zillow's observed rent was $3,604. See the Irvine neighborhoods guide.
Costa Mesa: mostly renters, central location
Costa Mesa has the lowest owner share in this table, 39.6%, and only 39.3% of homes are detached houses. Its typical value was $1,419,109, up 6.4% in a year. Redfin's three-month median was higher, $1,549,262, because sales skew toward houses. Homes went under contract in a median of 39 days. With so many renters, rent matters here: Zillow's observed rent was $3,121 a month, and the Census median gross rent in the city is $2,446. Nearly half the homes (46.5%) were built before 1970.
Yorba Linda: north county houses, high ownership
Yorba Linda is 83.0% owner-occupied and 74.8% detached houses, and its median household income, $157,582, is among the highest of any city in the county. Most homes date from 1970 or later. Zillow's typical value was $1,398,026, up 3.4% in a year, and homes sold at 99.1% of list in 42 days. Lennar lists a new home page for the city; ask the sales office what is active.
Fountain Valley: one of the county's fastest markets
Fountain Valley sold faster than any other Orange County city with 100 or more sales: a median of 27 days, with homes closing at 101.5% of list on Redfin's three-month figures and 1.8 months of supply. Very little has been built since 2010 (1.7% of homes), so supply is fixed. About two-thirds of homes are detached houses (67.8%) and 64.8% are owner-occupied, and Zillow's observed rent was $2,998 a month. Zillow's typical value was $1,377,121, up 47.9% in five years. Redfin's median dipped 3.1% to $1,409,329 on 100 sales.
Huntington Beach: the biggest beach city
Huntington Beach had 418 sales in three months, the second most in the county, and a Redfin median of $1,399,334, up 5.3%. Zillow's typical value was $1,344,725. Homes took 43 days and 2.8 months of supply was on the market. Fewer than half the homes, 46.6%, are detached. See the Huntington Beach neighborhoods guide.
Mission Viejo: south county suburb with tight supply
Mission Viejo is 76.9% owner-occupied and 71.4% detached houses, with most homes built between 1970 and 2009. It had 2.2 months of supply, among the lowest of the large cities, and 268 sales in three months. Redfin's median rose 6.2% to $1,224,417; Zillow's typical value was $1,201,393, and its observed rent was $3,190 a month.
Rancho Mission Viejo: almost all new
Rancho Mission Viejo is a master-planned census place where 95.1% of homes were built in 2010 or later. Builders are selling in Rienda Village, and Gavilán Ridge is its 55+ village. Zillow's typical value was $1,194,986, up 1.1% in a year, while Redfin's three-month median rose 11.2% to $1,128,962, with homes taking 56 days and 4.8 months of supply. Resale sellers there compete with builders selling new homes nearby. Ask about Mello-Roos and HOA dues on every home. See Orange County new construction.
Fullerton: older homes, bidding above list
About half of Fullerton's homes (51.2%) were built before 1970. Its typical value was $1,037,545, and homes sold for 100.4% of list on average in a median of 40 days on 220 sales. The 91/Perris Valley Metrolink line runs through Fullerton to Los Angeles. Zillow's observed rent was $2,888.
Anaheim: largest city, wide price range
Anaheim, the county's largest city by population at about 344,521 by the Census count, had a typical value of $941,684. Redfin's median rose 8.6% to $969,538 on 344 sales, with homes selling for 100.6% of list. Prices vary from the flatlands to Anaheim Hills: Redfin's three-month median in ZIP 92808 was $1,134,667. The hills have a cluster of gated tracts; see the gated communities guide.
Santa Ana: lowest prices of the big cities
Santa Ana had Zillow's lowest typical value in this table, $858,641, and Redfin's median of $849,595 on 206 sales. Homes sold at 99.8% of list. In ZIP 92707, homes sold above list on average (101.0%). Ownership is lower than the county as a whole, 44.6%, and Zillow's observed rent was $2,820. The Census median household income in the city is $93,999.
Best Orange County areas by what you want
Best for waterfront and beach access
Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach front the ocean. On price, San Clemente and Huntington Beach are the lower-cost coastal cities on Zillow's index, at $1,751,315 and $1,344,725, against more than $3 million in Newport and Laguna.
Best for newer homes
Rancho Mission Viejo (95.1% built 2010 or later) and Irvine (33.1%) have the most new housing, followed by the cities of Brea (15.5%), Lake Forest (12.8%) and Tustin (11.8%), on Census figures.
Best for a lower entry price
Santa Ana, Anaheim, La Habra ($900,627) and Buena Park ($928,677) have the lowest Zillow typical values among cities of 50,000 or more people. Stanton, a smaller city, is lower still at $784,807. Garden Grove, at $1,001,908, sits just above; see the Garden Grove neighborhoods guide.
Best for condos and townhomes
Irvine, Costa Mesa, Tustin and Aliso Viejo each have detached-house shares under 40% by the Census count, so attached homes make up most of what is for sale. Redfin's county median for condos was $715,000 in August 2026. See the Orange County condos guide.
Best for detached houses on established streets
Villa Park (95.3% detached) and North Tustin (90.8%) are almost all single-family houses, and Yorba Linda (74.8%) and Mission Viejo (71.4%) have the highest shares among the larger cities.
Best for 55+ buyers
Laguna Woods Village and Leisure World Seal Beach are the two large gated 55+ villages, and Gavilán Ridge at Rancho Mission Viejo sells new 55+ homes. See the 55+ communities guide.
How to compare Orange County areas before you choose
Commute and transit
Drive the route at rush hour before you commit. The county's mean commute is about 26.7 minutes on Census figures, but a south county to north county trip takes much longer. Metrolink's three lines serve 11 stations in the county, according to OCTA, and the 91/Perris Valley line stops in Fullerton and Buena Park.
Taxes, special taxes and HOA dues
The Orange County Auditor-Controller's 2026-27 rate book starts every tax rate area at the 1% basic levy; most areas add a little on top for local bonds. Newer master plans such as Rancho Mission Viejo and Irvine's villages often add Mello-Roos and HOA dues, so compare total monthly cost, not just price. See the Orange County property tax guide.
Insurance and wildfire
Foothill and canyon areas, from Anaheim Hills and North Tustin to the south county ridges, can cost more to insure. Look up the CAL FIRE hazard zone and get a quote for the address early; the wildfire zones guide shows how.
Schools by address
District lines don't always follow city lines. Check the district's address lookup and the school's results on the California School Dashboard rather than relying on the city name; see the Orange County schools guide.
Most expensive, cheapest and fastest-rising areas
On Zillow's September 2026 values, the most expensive cities are Newport Beach ($3,710,827), Laguna Beach ($3,043,251) and Villa Park ($2,337,518), with the unincorporated Coto de Caza next at $1,979,033. The lowest typical values are Laguna Woods ($458,736), where most homes are 55+ co-ops and condos, then Stanton ($784,807), Seal Beach ($838,369) and Santa Ana ($858,641).
Over five years, Newport Beach (55.9%), Irvine (53.9%) and Laguna Niguel (53.1%) gained the most on Zillow's index, with Fountain Valley (47.9%) next. In the last year, Newport Beach rose most (10.1%), while Irvine was the one large city to fall (-1.9%). For the official crime figures by agency, see the Orange County crime data guide; we don't rank areas by safety. For a score that combines price and competition, see the best places to live in Orange County ranking. To talk through specific streets, contact our featured local agent.