Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Orange
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
Rent in Orange
Rent control: Orangehas no local rent-stabilization ordinance we track, so California's statewide cap (AB 1482) is the main protection. It limits annual increases on most buildings at least 15 years old, with exemptions. Verify a building's status before signing.
General information, not legal advice.
How Orange scores for you
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Orange is a city of about 140,000 people in northern Orange County, roughly 3 miles north of Santa Ana. What sets it apart is its Old Town District, where homes built before 1920 have been preserved instead of demolished, giving pockets of the city a genuine early-20th-century feel. The wider city is suburban and car-dependent, with scattered amenities and limited transit options.
Day-to-day life here means relying on a car for most errands. Walkability is slightly above the regional average, but you will need wheels to reach grocery stores, gyms, and most restaurants reliably. There is no nearby rail transit. Air quality ranks in the lower half regionally, and traffic exposure is above average, so commuting by car comes with tradeoffs.
Living here
Orange feels like a quiet, residential suburb where you can find neighborhood parks, casual dining, and everyday services, but not much spontaneity. Within a short walk, you will typically find about 8-9 restaurants, 1-2 coffee shops, and a grocery store or two. Sycamore Park, Eisenhower Park, and Santiago Park offer green space, though tree cover citywide is sparse at under 6 percent, well below the regional average.
Most of your life will happen by car. The upside is affordability: median current rents sit near the regional average at about $2,308, and the city ranks 110th of 210 comparable places in rent. The downside is that you are trading walkability and transit access for a quieter, more car-oriented lifestyle. If you work outside Orange or commute frequently, factor in above-average traffic exposure.
Who it's for
Orange works best for renters who own a car, do not need to commute by transit, and want a low-key suburban setting over urban amenities. It suits families, remote workers, or anyone prioritizing affordability and neighborhood calm over walkability and nightlife. If you are drawn to the Old Town character or simply want a stable, car-dependent Orange County neighborhood, Orange delivers that clearly.
Environment & livability
Air quality: moderate diesel PM exposure for California.
Above the state median, linked to mild long-term respiratory risk in some studies. Worth considering for sensitive households.
Traffic exposure: above-average traffic corridor exposure.
Higher traffic proximity correlates with elevated noise, diesel emissions, and reduced pedestrian comfort on nearby streets.
Tree cover: very limited tree cover, predominantly concrete.
Low canopy areas tend to run hotter and feel more exposed. Research links tree cover to lower ambient temperatures and improved pedestrian comfort.
Walkability: walkable for some errands, car useful for others.
A mixed walkability area. Good for quick trips on foot, but some destinations will require driving or transit.
Transit: minimal transit access, car strongly recommended.
Very infrequent or no meaningful transit nearby. Car dependency is high in this area.
Environmental data from CalEnviroScreen 4.0 and the EPA Smart Location Database. Informational only, not professional advice for a housing decision.
Who lives in Orange
Population
52,332
Renters
47%
of households rent
Median age
36
Median income
$106k
per household
Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Schools in Orange
13 public schools sit inside this area · 12 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| California iInspire Academy Elementary | K-6 | 44% | 35% |
| Fairhaven Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 29% | 21% |
| La Veta Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 53% | 50% |
| McPherson Magnet Elementary | K-8 | 74% | 56% |
| OUSD Home Sch Elementary | K-8 | 26% | 8% |
| Palmyra GATE Magnet Elementary | K-6 | 54% | 41% |
| Sycamore Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 40% | 37% |
| Taft Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 41% | 43% |
| West Orange Elementary Elementary | K-6 | 52% | 34% |
| Portola Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 7-8 | 39% | 26% |
| Yorba Middle Intermediate/Middle/Junior High | 7-8 | 47% | 26% |
| OUSD Community Day High School | 11-12 | — | — |
| Richland Continuation High High School | 11-12 | 5% | 0% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Orange
Albertsons · Grocery Outlet · La Sabrossa · Mother's Market
Ape Coffee · Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders · Corner Bakery · Green Leaves Tea Café
Adalberto's · Baja Fish Tacos · Bangkok Taste · Birria Guadalajara
Eisenhower Park · El Camino Real Park · Hart Park · Killefer Park
24 Hour Fitness · HIRIZE Fitness · Orangetheory Fitness
Check your commute from Orange
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Similar neighborhoods
Next to Orange
What the census says about Orange
Facts about the neighborhood from the American Community Survey. These describe Orange; none of them feed the scores above.
- Typical commute
- 27 min
- one way, residents who work
- Settled households
- 72%
- moved in before 2018
- Housing built
- ~1968
- average year of construction
- Above 1 per room
- 11%
- a measure of housing pressure
- Vacant units
- 4%
- of all housing units
- Broadband
- 95%
- of households subscribe
- Detached houses
- 52%
- the rest are attached or apartments
- Typical size
- 3 bed
- median across all homes here
- Homes here
- 15,322
- total housing units
Averaged across 30 areas of about a kilometre each. ACS 5-year estimates.
Orange in the regional index
How Orange places when every neighborhood in LA and Orange County is scored the same way.
- The areas with no affordable escape from pollution
Ranks #64 of 262 neighborhoods on this weighting.
Finding a place in Orange
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orange walkable?+
Orange is walkable for some errands, particularly within Old Town, but you will need a car for most grocery shopping, restaurants, and services. Walkability ranks 119th of 319 comparable places, slightly above the regional average, so it is a mixed picture.
What is public transit like?+
Orange has minimal transit access and ranks 214th of 319 places regionally. There is no nearby rail, and bus service is limited. A car is strongly recommended.
How is the air quality?+
Orange ranks 242nd of 318 places in air quality and faces moderate diesel PM exposure. It ranks below average regionally for air quality, so it is a consideration if you are sensitive to pollution.
What are rents like?+
Current residents pay a median of about $2,308, near the regional average. Orange ranks 110th of 210 places by rent, making it competitively priced without being notably cheap or expensive.
What is there to do nearby?+
Orange has parks like Sycamore, Eisenhower, and Santiago, plus casual dining and coffee shops scattered throughout. For more diverse entertainment and nightlife, you would typically drive to nearby Santa Ana or larger centers in Orange County.
What is the traffic like?+
Orange ranks 172nd of 317 places for traffic, meaning above-average traffic corridor exposure. If you commute by car, expect steady traffic on main routes.
What is the average rent in Orange?+
Current residents of Orange pay a median rent of about $2,333 per month (Census ACS). Asking rents for new leases typically run higher.
How is the air quality in Orange?+
Orange has moderate diesel PM exposure for California, based on CalEnviroScreen 4.0 diesel particulate data (percentile 70 of 100, lower is cleaner).
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Orange?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Orange are Quail Hill, Buena Park, Cerritos and South Tustin.