California Declares $104,200 Salary 'Low-Income' in Orange County for 2026

Executive Briefing

• Reveals California's 2026 housing limits classify single earners making up to $104,200 as low-income in Orange County, up from $94,750.
• Shows only 18% of Orange County households earn enough to afford a median-priced home at $1.44 million.
• Finds 51% of Orange County residents have considered leaving, with housing costs cited as the primary reason.
• Reports LA County lost 53,421 residents in one year, the largest numeric population decline of any U.S. county.
• Highlights California's broader affordability crisis as San Francisco and LA metro areas continue multi-year population declines.