AlisoViejoCALM, 2005
Aliso Viejo’s story
36 years in pictures
Census counts: 7,612 in 1990, 52,176 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
- 1990Aliso Viejo is settled
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Population
49,844
2025 Census estimate · −4.5% since 2020
Typical home
$992K
+2.1% in a year
Household income
$142K
median
Median age
39.2
years
Jobs based here
19,788
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#47 of 841 in CA
Is Aliso Viejo a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Aliso Viejo grades A− overall, ranked 47th of 841 in California. It is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $142K. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $992K, 10.3 years of the Los Angeles metro’s $96K median household income. Aliso Viejo’s median rent is $2,854 a month, above both California’s towns ($1,895 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). On safety, just 35 of California’s 426 towns do better. Aliso Viejo is home to Soka University of America.
What makes Aliso Viejo stand out
Where Aliso Viejo beats most towns.
College town
Soka University of America calls Aliso Viejo home
2 colleges in town.
Soka University of America476 students on campus
- Admission
- 43%
- Net price
- $18,260
- Graduate
- 92%
- Admission
- Open
- Net price
- $32,654
- Graduate
- 43%
College Scorecard · IPEDS
How Aliso Viejo grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Aliso Viejo is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →HealthMemorialcare Saddleback Medical Center 2.3 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.6 of 20; 3.6% of households have no car; 1.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SafetyB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors15% conserved landAOpen →History6 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life2.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 81° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market35 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.2; 58% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 269 attractions →Disneyland and 95 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Aliso Viejo. Close and well known come first.
Big draw19 mi Theme parkDisneyland17.3M visitors a year
Big draw34 mi MuseumUSS Iowa
Big draw24 mi Theme parkKnott's Berry Farm4.5M visitors a year
Big draw18 mi Stadium & arenaAngel Stadium of Anaheim
Big draw19 mi Theme parkDisney California Adventure10.1M visitors a year
18 mi Stadium & arenaHonda CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Disneyland: HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · USS Iowa: PH1 Jeff Hilton, Public domain · Knott's Berry Farm: Phydend at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Angel Stadium of Anaheim: Staff Sgt. Chad McMeen, Public domain · Disney California Adventure: CrispyCream27, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Honda Center: Arnold C (Buchanan-Hermit), Attribution
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Aliso Viejo: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Aliso Viejo, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMoulton Niguel Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerThe town’s contract hauler picks up at the curb for every homeTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOrange County Registrar of VotersOrange County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9265692656 99%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Aliso Viejo.
Aliso Viejo fares better on crime within California than nationally and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of California.
OutdoorsA
Aliso Viejo has set aside 14.7% of its land for conservation
13 miles of trail in 23 parks and preserves. The trail density in Aliso Viejo is 1.8 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 358 acres with 4 miles of trail.
#180for trails in CA
14.7%
conserved · 648 of 4,414 acres
13 mi
of trails · 1.8 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park | 4 mi | 358 |
| 2. Woodfield Park | 1.3 mi | 24 |
| 3. Hillview Park | 0.9 mi | 25 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA
Aliso Viejo’s public schools outperform 88% of California districts
Its A for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $992K.
Its public schools are run by the Capistrano Unified school district. Three of its 12 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
88%of CA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Juan Avila MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 863 | – |
| Aliso Niguel HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,563 | A |
| JourneyTop results in townGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 617 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Aliso Viejo’s grade for health is an A
Its widest gap with California is no health insurance: 5.1% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 10.6% statewide. Against the 3,366 U.S. towns with household incomes like Aliso Viejo’s, it is healthier than 74%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
23% of adults have obesity in Aliso Viejo. Aliso Viejo beats the California average on 21 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 25% of adults have high blood pressure in Aliso Viejo.
93%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Aliso Viejo | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 29% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 7.8% | 11% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
21 better11 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Aliso Viejo | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.5% | 10.6% |
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
2.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
87th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D−
Aliso Viejo’s grade for cost of living is a D−
At 10.3 years of the Los Angeles metro’s $96K median household income, the typical home (about $992K) costs more against local pay than in 79% of California towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. Home values rose 37% in five years, to about $992K, against 13% across California.
57% of Aliso Viejo households own their home. The typical Aliso Viejo home is worth about $992,000, up 2.1% in a year, 30% above the California typical home.
$992KZillow home value
| Aliso Viejo | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 57% | 64% | 73% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 57% | 55% | 48% |
Typical home value
Aliso Viejo$992K
California$762K
Market temperature
35
days on market
99.9%
sale-to-list price
+2.1%
value change, 1 year
30
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Aliso Viejo faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Aliso Viejo since 2010.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
1
paid flood claims since 2010
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyB+
Crime per resident in Aliso Viejo is lower than in 67% of U.S. towns
At 12.2 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 93% of California’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 60 reported in 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Aliso Viejo’s property crime rate is 6.2 per 1,000 residents.
67%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Aliso Viejo | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.2 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Aliso Viejo1.2
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Aliso Viejo6.2
California18.2
U.S.15.5
67th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
93rd
percentile among CA towns
60
violent crimes reported in 2025
308
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
In Aliso Viejo, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 47.8°, milder than in 98% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 78.5°.
Aliso Viejo has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
81°summer high
| Aliso Viejo | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 79°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 48°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter48–67°
Spring52–70°
Summer61–78°
Fall57–76°
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
81°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most of Aliso Viejo’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
26% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.
Most working residents leave Aliso Viejo for work: only 8% work in town. Jobs based in Aliso Viejo grew to 19,788 in 2023, 3,667 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Irvine (17%), Los Angeles (5%) and Newport Beach (5%).
8%work in town
| Aliso Viejo | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 26% | 14% | 11% |
| Median household income | $142,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Aliso Viejo8%
Irvine17%
Los Angeles5%
Newport Beach5%
Santa Ana4%
11 mi
median commute distance
19,788
jobs based in Aliso Viejo
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Aliso Viejo
20pages on Aliso Viejo
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 88% of CA districts · 12 schoolsSafetyB+1.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than CA on 21 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$992K typical home · up 2.1% in a yearWork & commuteA$142K median household income · 19,788 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
16 within 15 miles of the center of Aliso Viejo
University of Massachusetts GlobalUniversity or college · Public · Aliso ViejoIn town$12,540 in-state tuitionSoka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Aliso ViejoIn town$38,728 tuitionSaddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mission Viejo4.1 mi$1,156 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Aliso Viejo residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
Famous people from Aliso Viejo
6 notable people were born in Aliso Viejo.
A
Ashley BowyerAssociation footballer · born 1988
R
Ryan CoinerAmerican soccer player · born 1979
M
Marc MaiffretAmerican computer security expert · born 1980About Aliso Viejo
City in California, United States
Aliso Viejo (uh-LEE-so vee-AY-ho; Spanish for "old alder tree") is a city in the San Joaquin Hills of southern Orange County, California. It had a population of 52,176 as of the 2020 census, up from 47,823 as of the 2010 census. It became Orange County's 34th city on July 1, 2001, the only city in Orange County to be incorporated since 2000. It is bordered by the cities of Laguna Beach on the west and southwest, Laguna Hills on the east, Laguna Niguel on the southeast, and Laguna Woods on the north. It is similarly named to another nearby city, Mission Viejo.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 410 ft
- ZIP code
- 92656, 92698
- Area code
- 949
Aliso Viejo’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Aliso Viejo.
At #47 in CA, it grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Laguna Niguel (B+) comes closest.
Laguna WoodsLaguna NiguelLaguna HillsLaguna BeachAliso Viejo
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliso Viejo | #47 | A− | D− | B+ | A | A |
| Laguna Woods | #153 | B | D | A− | A− | B |
| Laguna Niguel | #69 | B+ | D− | B+ | A | A |
| Laguna Hills | #158 | B | D− | B− | A− | A |
| Laguna Beach | #86 | B+ | D− | C+ | A | A |
Questions about Aliso Viejo
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Aliso Viejo, CA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Aliso Viejo grades A− overall, better than 79% of U.S. towns and #47 of 841 in California. It grades A for health, B+ for safety and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
What is Aliso Viejo, CA known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Ashley Bowyer and Royce Lewis.