Rancho Mission Viejo, California Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Rancho 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, Rancho Mission Viejo, California had a total population of 11,971, the 453rd largest community in California, with a median household income of $192,813, which is 95% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 2.7%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 95% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in California.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 2.7% — among the lowest in California.

Rancho Mission Viejo Quick Facts

Population 11,971

Median Household Income $192,813

Median Home Value $1,110,100

Poverty Rate 2.7%

Unemployment Rate 4.0%

Median Age 37.4 years

Homeownership Rate 75.9%

Affordability Ratio 5.8x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 62.9%

High School Graduation Rate 98.3%

Diversity Index 46/100

Population 11,971 453rd of 1,570

Median Income $192,813 top 10%

Poverty Rate 2.7% 78% lower than national

Median Home Value $1,110,100 top 20%

How Rancho 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	11,355	11,971	+5.4%
Median household income	$181,111	$192,813	+6.5%
Median home value	$1,039,300	$1,110,100	+6.8%

How Rancho Mission Viejo Compares

Median Household Income

Rancho Mission Viejo

$192,813

$99,122

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Rancho Mission Viejo

$1,110,100

$734,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 4.9%

$25K-$50K 5.5%

$50K-$100K 16.1%

$100K+ 73.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.2%

$10K-$15K

0.3%

$15K-$20K

0.2%

$20K-$25K

0.2%

$25K-$30K

1.3%

$30K-$35K

0.8%

$35K-$40K

0.6%

$40K-$45K

1.7%

$45K-$50K

1.1%

$50K-$60K

6.6%

$60K-$75K

5.2%

$75K-$100K

4.3%

$100K-$125K

10.4%

$125K-$150K

4.8%

$150K-$200K

9.8%

$200K+

48.6%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%

67.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.9%

Renter 24.1%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.8x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $3,501/mo 21.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

28.9%

18-34

15.8%

35-54

27.1%

55-74

19.6%

75+

8.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Rancho Mission Viejo Rankings in California

#453 Population of 1,570

#96 Median Income of 1,375

#183 Education of 1,570

#209 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
Mission Viejo	92,151	$136,123	5.6%	$1,009,600
Westminster	89,860	$85,541	14.4%	$858,300

Cities Similar to Rancho Mission Viejo

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
San Marino	12,216	$214,167	$2,000,000+	82.6%	6.7%
Rossmoor	11,532	$211,597	$1,406,900	62.3%	4.2%
San Anselmo	12,679	$173,641	$1,576,700	70.6%	7.4%
Tamalpais-Homestead Valley	12,085	$243,227	$1,863,900	79.8%	3.3%
Clayton	10,937	$175,707	$1,055,200	59.1%	2.5%

Population Overview

Rancho Mission Viejo is a small city located in California, within Orange County. The total population is 11,971. It ranks as the 453rd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rancho Mission Viejo is 37.4 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 28.9% of the population under 18, Rancho Mission Viejo has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rancho Mission Viejo is $192,813. This is 95% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 139% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.7%. This is 78% 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 4.0%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,110,100. Housing costs are 51% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.8x. 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rancho Mission Viejo is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.5% of the population. Asian residents account for 12.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (71.5% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.6%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

62.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 70% 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 98.3%. Notably, 26.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rancho 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 Rancho Mission Viejo, California?

Rancho Mission Viejo, California has a population of 11,971 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

The median household income in Rancho Mission Viejo is $192,813, which is 139% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Rancho Mission Viejo, CA?

The poverty rate in Rancho Mission Viejo is 2.7%. This means approximately 322 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Rancho Mission Viejo, California?

Rancho Mission Viejo's population is 71.5% White, 0.4% Black, 7.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 12.9% Asian.

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

The median home value in Rancho Mission Viejo is $1,110,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.8x.

How educated is Rancho Mission Viejo, California?

62.9% of adults (25+) in Rancho Mission Viejo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 26.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.