Mission Viejo, California Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Mission Viejo, California Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Mission Viejo, California had a total population of 92,151, the 86th largest city in California, with a median household income of $136,123, which is 37% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 5.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 37% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in California.
Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 7.4x the median household income.

Mission Viejo Quick Facts

Population 92,151

Median Household Income $136,123

Median Home Value $1,009,600

Poverty Rate 5.6%

Unemployment Rate 5.2%

Median Age 45.5 years

Homeownership Rate 76.9%

Affordability Ratio 7.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 52.1%

High School Graduation Rate 94.3%

Diversity Index 59/100

Population 92,151 86th of 1,570

Median Income $136,123 top 20%

Poverty Rate 5.6% 55% lower than national

Median Home Value $1,009,600 top 20%

How Mission Viejo Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	92,415	92,151	-0.3%
Median household income	$136,071	$136,123	+0.0%
Median home value	$946,300	$1,009,600	+6.7%

How Mission Viejo Compares

Median Household Income

Mission Viejo

$136,123

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Mission Viejo

$1,009,600

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.7%

$25K-$50K 9.2%

$50K-$100K 17.8%

$100K+ 66.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

1.4%

$15K-$20K

0.9%

$20K-$25K

1.3%

$25K-$30K

1.2%

$30K-$35K

1.2%

$35K-$40K

2.4%

$40K-$45K

2.3%

$45K-$50K

2.1%

$50K-$60K

3.9%

$60K-$75K

4.9%

$75K-$100K

9.0%

$100K-$125K

11.7%

$125K-$150K

8.9%

$150K-$200K

13.3%

$200K+

32.4%

Employment

5.2% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

62.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 76.9%

Renter 23.1%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

7.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $2,839/mo 25.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.4%

18-34

15.7%

35-54

26.2%

55-74

28.1%

75+

9.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Mission Viejo Rankings in California

#86 Population of 1,570

#249 Median Income of 1,375

#288 Education of 1,570

#259 Home Value of 1,376

Explore California Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Orange County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Anaheim	344,521	$95,227	12.4%	$831,200
Santa Ana	312,534	$93,999	10.8%	$713,000
Irvine	311,690	$136,719	10.8%	$1,191,500
Huntington Beach	195,240	$120,919	7.8%	$1,100,000
Garden Grove	170,964	$92,174	12.3%	$814,100
Fullerton	140,968	$104,286	12.3%	$902,600
Orange	138,266	$117,113	9.5%	$945,800
Costa Mesa	110,330	$111,505	9.1%	$1,115,100
Westminster	89,860	$85,541	14.4%	$858,300
Lake Forest	86,281	$135,175	8.5%	$937,000

Cities Similar to Mission Viejo

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Lake Forest	86,281	$135,175	$937,000	50.8%	8.5%
Santa Monica	91,169	$114,885	$1,755,500	70.7%	11.2%
Folsom	83,916	$139,804	$755,200	54.9%	5.3%
Tracy	96,966	$121,119	$699,000	28.5%	7.8%
Carson	92,871	$108,703	$704,400	29.3%	8.7%

Population Overview

Mission Viejo is a mid-sized community located in California, within Orange County. The total population is 92,151. It ranks as the 86th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mission Viejo is 45.5 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mission Viejo is $136,123. This is 37% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 69% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.6%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,009,600. Housing costs are 37% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 76.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mission Viejo is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 20.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (59.1% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (20.0%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

52.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 94.3%. Notably, 19.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mission Viejo, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Mission Viejo, California?

Mission Viejo, California has a population of 92,151 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Mission Viejo, CA?

The median household income in Mission Viejo is $136,123, which is 69% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Mission Viejo, CA?

The poverty rate in Mission Viejo is 5.6%. This means approximately 5,161 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Mission Viejo, California?

Mission Viejo's population is 59.1% White, 1.0% Black, 20.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 14.2% Asian.

What is the median home value in Mission Viejo, CA?

The median home value in Mission Viejo is $1,009,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 7.4x.

How educated is Mission Viejo, California?

52.1% of adults (25+) in Mission Viejo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 19.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.