What to know when moving to Orange, CA
Crime & Safety: What the Numbers Say
In California, the overall crime rates show some significant trends. Property crime has an annual rate of 1,764 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is about 14 percent higher than the national average of 1,547. However, this rate has decreased by 26.1 percent since 2022. Violent crime sits at 415.5 per 100,000, which is 27.7 percent above the national rate of 325.3 and has also seen a reduction of 17.4 percent in recent years.
- Violent crime: 415.5 per 100k vs. national 325.3, down 17.4% since 2022
- Property crime: 1,764 per 100k vs. national 1,547, down 26.1% since 2022
- Notable trend: Homicide rate down 44.9% since 2022, now at 3.2 per 100k
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (CDE)
Schools & Higher Ed
Orange County offers robust educational options with a total of 60 postsecondary institutions available, 57 of which provide College Scorecard data. Notable nearby schools include:
- Chapman University
- Santiago Canyon College
- South Coast College
- Sri Sai Krish Institute
Source: ArcGIS Postsecondary School Locations (NCES) + College Scorecard (ED)
Weather & Getting Outside
Orange County experiences an annual precipitation of 15.6 inches, with about 42 rainy days per year. The winter months tend to be the wettest, accounting for 8.6 inches of rain. You can also enjoy various parks and outdoor spots like:
- Disneyland Park - 4.6 stars (126,395 reviews)
- Disney California Adventure Park - 4.7 stars (77,237 reviews)
- Irvine Regional Park - 4.8 stars (8,730 reviews)
- Mile Square Regional Park - 4.7 stars (6,808 reviews)
Source: NOAA Climate Data Online (CDO), Google Places API
Jobs & the Local Economy
In Orange County, the unemployment rate is currently at 3.9 percent as of December 2025, with a labor force of 1,642,351 people. Employment in the county stands at 1,578,358.
- Unemployment rate: 3.9% (December 2025)
- Labor force: 1,642,351
- Employed: 1,578,358
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)