Untitled photo, 2005
Ladera Ranch’s story
27 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
- 1999Ladera Ranch is settled
Ladera RanchCA
A town of 23,793, settled in 1999.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Branden Pinney · Public domain
Population
23,793
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$1.37M
+2% in a year
Household income
$184K
median
Median age
35.1
years
Jobs based here
3,468
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#60 of 841 in CA
Is Ladera Ranch a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Ladera Ranch grades A− overall, ranked 60th of 841 in California. It is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $184K. What holds it back is price: homes are expensive, about $1.4 million for a typical one and 14.3 times the Los Angeles metro’s $96K median household income. 68% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Ladera Ranch, above both California’s towns (29%) and U.S. towns (29%). On history, just 15 of California’s 1,063 towns do worse. Ladera Ranch's schools outperform 88% of the state's.
What makes Ladera Ranch stand out
Where Ladera Ranch beats most towns.
32 measures vs. California
22 better8 too close to call2 worse
| Widest gap | Ladera Ranch | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.9% | 10.6% |
HealthA+
Healthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
OutdoorsA+
19.4% conserved land
Biggest place to walk: Town Green, 0.4 mi of trail.
Capistrano Unified schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Oso Grande Elementary | K–5 | 867 |
| Chaparral Elementary | K–5 | 604 |
| Ladera Ranch Elementary | K–5 | 580 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Get outside
26 miles of trails in Ladera Ranch
19.4% of the town is conserved land, across 11 parks and preserves.
2
Dogwood Park0.3 mi of trails · 2 acres
3
Founder's Park13 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Ladera Ranch grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Ladera Ranch is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →HealthProvidence Mission Hospital 1.8 miles awayA+Open →Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.2 of 20; 0.6% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 84° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market41 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.1–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 263 attractions →Disneyland and 86 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Ladera Ranch. Close and well known come first.
Big draw24 mi Theme parkDisneyland17.3M visitors a year
Big draw39 mi MuseumUSS Iowa
Big draw29 mi Theme parkKnott's Berry Farm4.5M visitors a year
Big draw22 mi Stadium & arenaAngel Stadium of Anaheim
Big draw24 mi Theme parkDisney California Adventure10.1M visitors a year
22 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
Moving to Ladera Ranch: who provides what
Ladera Ranch is unincorporated, so Orange County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSanta Margarita Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesOrange CountyOrange County provides services here
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 code9269492694 100%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 Ladera Ranch.
Ladera Ranch has less no health insurance than most of California 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+
Ladera Ranch stands out in California and nationally, with trail density higher than most
The trail density in Ladera Ranch is 5.2 miles per square mile. 26 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves.
#14for trails in CA
19.4%
conserved · 611 of 3,152 acres
26 mi
of trails · 5.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Town Green | 0.4 mi | 2 |
| 2. Dogwood Park | 0.3 mi | 2 |
| 3. Founder's Park | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA
Ladera Ranch earns an A for schools
Its A for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.37M.
Its public schools are run by the Capistrano Unified school district. One of its 6 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
88%of CA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladera Ranch MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,064 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade D−
Ladera Ranch earns a D− for cost of living
At 14.3 years of the Los Angeles metro’s $96K median household income, the typical home (about $1.37M) costs more against local pay than in 90% of California towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living. Home values rose 36% in five years, to about $1.37M, against 13% across California.
Ladera Ranch’s median rent is $3,350 a month. The typical Ladera Ranch home is worth about $1,375,000, up 2% in a year, 81% above the California typical home.
$1.37MZillow home value
| Ladera Ranch | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $3,350 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Ladera Ranch$1.37M
California$762K
Market temperature
41
days on market
99.8%
sale-to-list price
+2%
value change, 1 year
22
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthA+
Compared with most of California and the rest of the country, fewer of Ladera Ranch’s adults have high blood pressure
Its widest gap with California is no health insurance: 3.9% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 10.6% statewide. Against the 1,257 U.S. towns with household incomes like Ladera Ranch’s, it is healthier than 65%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
23% of Ladera Ranch adults have high blood pressure. Ladera Ranch beats the California average on 22 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 7% of Ladera Ranch adults have diabetes.
97%healthier than U.S. townsA+Health Grade
| Ladera Ranch | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 9.4% | 14% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 29% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 7% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. California
22 better8 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Ladera Ranch | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 3.9% | 10.6% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 3.9% | 10.6% |
| More binge drinkers | 19.2% | 15.3% |
Providence Mission Hospital
1.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
92nd
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Ladera Ranch has 0.3 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 2,362 in 2013 to 3,468. 27.9% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.
Most working residents leave Ladera Ranch for work: only 4% work in town. 28% of workers work from home in Ladera Ranch. Jobs based in Ladera Ranch grew to 3,468 in 2023, 1,106 more than in 2013.
4%work in town
| Ladera Ranch | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $184,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 28% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.2% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Ladera Ranch4%
Irvine16%
Los Angeles5%
Mission Viejo5%
Newport Beach4%
16 mi
median commute distance
3,468
jobs based in Ladera Ranch
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 71% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Ladera Ranch
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.
77risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Ladera Ranch has mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 47.5°, milder than in 98% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 82°.
Ladera Ranch has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
84°summer high
| Ladera Ranch | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 48°F | 40°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 89°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter47–68°
Spring51–71°
Summer61–81°
Fall56–78°
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
84°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ladera Ranch
18pages on Ladera Ranch
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Ladera Ranch
Saddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mission Viejo1.4 mi$1,156 in-state tuitionSoka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Aliso Viejo5.4 mi$38,728 tuitionUniversity of Massachusetts GlobalUniversity or college · Public · Aliso Viejo5.5 mi$12,540 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Ladera Ranch residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
A growing town
Ladera Ranch has grown 14% from 2010 to 2020
22,980 counted in 2010 and 26,170 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
About Ladera Ranch
Census-designated place in California, United States
Ladera Ranch is a master-planned community and census-designated place in southern Orange County, California, just outside the city limits of Mission Viejo. As of the 2020 census, Ladera Ranch had a population of 26,170.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1999
- Area
- 4.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 404 ft
- ZIP code
- 92694
Ladera Ranch’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Ladera Ranch.
At #60 in CA, it grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Mission Viejo (B+) comes closest.
San Juan CapistranoLas FloresRancho Mission ViejoMission ViejoLadera Ranch
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladera Ranch | #60 | A− | D− | — | A | A+ |
| San Juan Capistrano | #121 | B | D− | B− | A | A− |
| Las Flores | #97 | B+ | D− | — | A | A |
| Rancho Mission Viejo | #122 | B | D− | — | A | A+ |
| Mission Viejo | #87 | B+ | D− | B | A | A |
Ladera Ranch, Las Flores and Rancho Mission Viejo report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Ladera Ranch with a neighbor →
Questions about Ladera Ranch
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ladera Ranch, CA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Ladera Ranch grades A− overall, better than 76% of U.S. towns and #60 of 841 in California. It grades A+ for health and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Ladera Ranch, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.