Signals
Lafayette
Orinda
Opportunity
60 · Top 43%
vs56 · Bottom 49%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 17%
vs23 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
56 · Bottom 16%
vs64 · Bottom 25%
Access
97 · Top 21%
vs98 · Top 15%
Economic stability
75 · Top 18%
vs73 · Top 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette | Orinda | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,285 | 19,514 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $228,250 | $250,000+ | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $123,402 | $140,621 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,683/sq mi | 1,518/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $1,863,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,892 | $3,501 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 91.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79.0% | 85.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 16.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 38.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 47.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 21.05 | 20.42 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 5.4% | 3.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Orinda
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Lafayette, CA · Orinda, CA · How this is calculated: methodology