A six-figure salary now qualifies as “low-income” in Orange County, California. According to state housing officials, a single-person household making $104,200 or less annually is eligible for low-income housing assistance. This marks an increase from the previous year’s limit of $94,750.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development releases annual income limits to assess eligibility for income-restricted housing. These limits take into account local housing costs. With property prices soaring, Orange County’s threshold surpasses the actual median individual income.
A University of California, Irvine survey in 2024 revealed that 51% of Orange County residents have thought about relocating due to high housing costs. Over three-quarters of those considering a move cite this issue as their primary concern.
For many renters, owning a home in the area seems unattainable. Data from the California Association of Realtors indicates only 18% of Orange County households earn the minimum income required for a median-priced home, currently priced at around $1.44 million. Statewide, 55.3% of Californians own homes, displaying the challenges of homeownership.
California’s major cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, continue experiencing population declines as housing costs and taxes remain high. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Los Angeles County lost 53,421 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, marking the largest decrease of any U.S. county. Its population has fallen from about 10 million since 2020 to 9.7 million.
San Francisco faces similar issues with an unrecovered population from pandemic lows. The city confronts high living costs and homelessness, despite an economic boost from the artificial intelligence sector.