Population 17,943 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Laguna Woods
Household size in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.45 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.47 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.52 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.51 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Laguna Woods are small: just 1.51 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 1.45, even as the national average fell. Laguna Woods has the smallest households of any California city with 5,000+ people.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.2 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 73.4 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 72.7 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 74.1 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.0 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 74.1, Laguna Woods is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has dropped from 76.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only one other California city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.1% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.4% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.7% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.7% of households in Laguna Woods, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only eight of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Laguna Woods
Renters in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.9% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Laguna Woods rent their homes (27.9%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 74.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.9% of the housing in Laguna Woods, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Laguna Woods is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the east has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,461 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,464 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,836 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,385 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$924 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Laguna Woods costs $2,385 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $924 a month from 2006–10, a 63% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 45.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Laguna Woods
Bachelor's degrees in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.2% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.2% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.8% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.7 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Laguna Woods: 51.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 13.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.6% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.9% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Laguna Woods: 95.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Laguna Woods has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of California cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Laguna Woods
| Period | Laguna Woods | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Laguna Woods is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider Los Angeles area (6.7%). Unemployment is down 6.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Laguna Woods compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Woods | 1.51 | 74.1 | 2.7% | 27.9% | 13.9% | 1971 | $2,385 | 51.8% | 95.9% | 5.8% |
| Top-of-the-World | 2.98 | 43.2 | 8.3% | 8.0% | 1.2% | 1997 | $2,950 | 75.6% | 98.2% | 2.1% |
| Laguna Hills | 2.74 | 42.6 | 9.8% | 34.6% | 8.4% | 1984 | $2,806 | 54.0% | 94.0% | 5.9% |
| Aliso Viejo | 2.61 | 40.4 | 7.1% | 43.2% | 5.5% | 1996 | $2,839 | 57.8% | 95.9% | 4.3% |
| Lake Forest | 2.88 | 41.1 | 6.5% | 31.5% | 5.8% | 1983 | $2,880 | 46.9% | 93.0% | 4.8% |
| Mission Viejo | 2.82 | 46.4 | 5.6% | 21.9% | 5.4% | 1981 | $3,066 | 52.3% | 94.0% | 5.2% |
| Laguna Beach | 2.15 | 53.4 | 4.5% | 33.0% | 19.7% | 1965 | $3,134 | 69.7% | 97.3% | 4.9% |
| Laguna Niguel | 2.59 | 47.5 | 9.1% | 30.8% | 7.8% | 1986 | $3,103 | 60.3% | 96.5% | 7.4% |
| Foothill Ranch | 3.09 | 39.2 | 8.6% | 26.5% | 5.6% | 2006 | $3,058 | 69.1% | 97.9% | 4.3% |
| Newport Coast | 2.91 | 47.7 | 6.1% | 32.0% | 15.3% | 1999 | $3,486 | 75.9% | 99.3% | 3.5% |
| Irvine | 2.84 | 35.3 | 9.0% | 56.1% | 9.6% | 2001 | $2,979 | 71.6% | 96.9% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: New Haven, IN · Pinecrest, FL · Pikeville, KY · Phelan, CA · Perry, FL · Pembroke, MA · Pell City, AL · Paris, TN · Palos Hills, IL · Oxford, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Laguna Woods. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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