Signals
Rancho Mission Viejo
Palmdale
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs30 · Bottom 6%
Climate
93 · Top 4%
vs61 · Bottom 17%
Physical resilience
12 · Bottom 7%
vs11 · Bottom 4%
Housing affordability
65 · Bottom 26%
vs54 · Bottom 13%
Access
82 · Bottom 25%
vs85 · Bottom 30%
Economic stability
75 · Top 16%
vs51 · Bottom 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Rancho Mission Viejo | Palmdale | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,971 | 164,634 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $192,813 | $81,770 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $86,989 | $29,441 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 317/sq mi | 1,552/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,110,100 | $471,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $1,802 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.9% | 66.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 6.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.9% | 17.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.7% | 15.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 80°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 38 mi | 32 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 41.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 33.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 24.78 | 24.09 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 18.6% | 73.4% | 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
Rancho Mission Viejo
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Palmdale
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Rancho Mission Viejo
65
Your Score
—
Area Score
Palmdale
49
Your Score
41
Area Score
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Full profiles: Rancho Mission Viejo, CA · Palmdale, CA · How this is calculated: methodology