City · California
Laguna Woods, California
Laguna Woods, city, in Orange County, California. Laguna Woods had 16,844 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,644 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,289 (±29). GEOID 0639259.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,844
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,644 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,289 ±29
Median household income
$59,269
±$7,082 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$394,600
±$18,821 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,328
±$70 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Laguna Woods and what county is it in?
Laguna Woods is a city in Orange County, California. It covers 3.3 square miles of land, 5,279 residents per square mile in 2020.
Laguna Woods is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Laguna Woods, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,844 people lived in Laguna Woods on July 1, 2025, down 4.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 17,644 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,289 (±29).
| Measure | Laguna Woods | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,289 ±29 | 3,165,820 | +1,236 |
| Households | 11,706 ±350 | 1,082,960 | +703 |
| Average household size | 1.47 ±0.04 | 2.87 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 13,336 ±515 | 1,146,169 | +938 |
Laguna Woods's population since 2000
From 16,507 in 2000 to 16,844 in 2025: up 2.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Laguna Woods as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Laguna Woods?
The median resident of Laguna Woods is 74.9 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.4%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 22.8%. 32.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Laguna Woods | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 74.9 ±1.5 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 83.1% ±3.0 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 40.7% ±2.6 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.9% ±2.0 pts | 34.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.4% ±2.8 pts | 36.9% | −4.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 22.8% ±2.8 pts | 22.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 32.3% ±3.0 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 30.0% ±3.4 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.0% ±1.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| With a disability | 30.4% ±3.2 pts | 9.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.8% ±1.7 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.9% ±3.0 pts | 44.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 22.4% ±2.7 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.6% ±2.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Laguna Woods earn?
Half of Laguna Woods's 11,706 households earn less than $59,269 a year (±$7,082), against $116,289 in Orange County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $54,175 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 14.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Laguna Woods | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,269 ±$7,082 | $116,289 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,186 ±$5,085 | $156,759 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,507 ±$3,204 | $54,557 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 14.2% ±3.2 pts | 9.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±45.7 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.9% ±1.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.4% ±1.4 pts | 97.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.4% ±2.6 pts | 95.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Laguna Woods?
Owners occupy 71.6% of Laguna Woods's occupied homes and renters 28.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $394,600 by its owner (±$18,821). The median renter pays $2,328 a month including utilities, and 70.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Laguna Woods | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $394,600 ±$18,821 | $962,600 | +$39,668 |
| Median gross rent | $2,328 ±$70 | $2,434 | +$168 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 70.8% ±8.1 pts | 47.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,196 ±$105 | $3,385 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.6% ±3.9 pts | 56.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.4% ±3.9 pts | 43.6% | – |
| Housing units | 13,336 ±515 | 1,146,169 | +938 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.1% ±2.5 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 7.1% ±2.0 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.5% ±2.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Laguna Woods building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Laguna Woods in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Laguna Woods work and get to work?
66.7% of Laguna Woods's workers drive alone and 20.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.3%.
| Measure | Laguna Woods | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 21.5% ±3.3 pts | 65.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% ±3.9 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 66.7% ±7.3 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.7% ±4.0 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 3.9% ±2.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 20.8% ±5.4 pts | 18.5% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min ±2.3 | 26.7 min | −3.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Laguna Woods?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Laguna Woods, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $57,413 (Tract 626.48) to $88,009 (Tract 626.49).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 626.46Orange County | 3,231 | $60,542 |
| Tract 626.48Orange County | 3,014 | $57,413 |
| Tract 626.49Orange County | 3,083 | $88,009 |
| Tract 626.41Orange County | 5,852 | $110,679 |
| Tract 626.22Orange County | 4,340 | $61,420 |
| Tract 626.25Orange County | 4,617 | $71,398 |
| Tract 626.52Orange County | 4,657 | $109,954 |
| Tract 626.47Orange County | 4,839 | $86,081 |
| Tract 626.35Orange County | 4,739 | $170,361 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Laguna Woods) · Census block assignment files
How does Laguna Woods compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Laguna Woods is the 2,218th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 319th-most populous of 483 in California.
Laguna Woods ranks 898th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 319th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 388th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 225th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 898th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 346th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 770th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 264th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 300th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 224th | 988 |
| Median age | 2nd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 409th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 280th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 960th | 1,069 |
Laguna Woods's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Laguna Woods with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Laguna Woods?
14 of the 57 figures for Laguna Woods on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Laguna Woods are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Laguna Woods.