Ladera Ranch, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ladera Ranch is a small city located in California, within Orange County. The total population is 23,793. It ranks as the 314th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ladera Ranch is 35.1 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 35.2% of the population under 18, Ladera Ranch has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ladera Ranch is $184,458. This is 86% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 128% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.2%. This is 65% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,151,000. Housing costs are 57% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ladera Ranch is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.6% of the population. Asian residents account for 13.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.6% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (12.9%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

68.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Ladera Ranch in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 83% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.2%. Notably, 27.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ladera Ranch, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.