Signals
Orinda
Lafayette
Opportunity
56 · Bottom 49%
vs60 · Top 43%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 17%
vs23 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 25%
vs56 · Bottom 16%
Access
98 · Top 15%
vs97 · Top 21%
Economic stability
73 · Top 21%
vs75 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Orinda | Lafayette | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,514 | 25,285 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $250,000+ | $228,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $140,621 | $123,402 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,518/sq mi | 1,683/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,863,200 | $2,000,001 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $2,892 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 91.3% | 77.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 85.9% | 79.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 2.9% | 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 | 11 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.5 min | 32.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.5 | 45.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.42 | 21.05 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 3.7% | 5.4% | 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
Orinda
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Orinda, CA · Lafayette, CA · How this is calculated: methodology