Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Irvine, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

311,690

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

Asian

44.6%139,049

White

34.3%106,877

Hispanic/Latino

11.4%35,637

Two or More

6.4%20,010

Black

1.9%5,970

Other

0.8%2,535

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.4%1,318

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%294

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

0.8%1,601

High School Diploma

7%14,115

Some College (<1 yr)

3.2%6,580

Some College (1+ yr)

8.7%17,744

Associate's Degree

6.4%12,929

Bachelor's Degree

39.1%79,343

Master's Degree

21.3%43,215

Professional Degree

5.7%11,632

Doctorate

4.5%9,136

HS or Higher

96.7%

BA or Higher

70.6%

Graduate+

31.5%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$1,191,500

Median Renti

$2,997

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

44.5%49,830

Renter-Occupied

55.5%62,261

Total Units

120,206

Homeownership

44.5%

Vacancy Rate

6.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.2%614

$50K–$100K

0.4%182

$100K–$150K

0.7%357

$150K–$200K

0.3%159

$200K–$300K

1%497

$300K–$500K

2.8%1,382

$500K–$1M

27.2%13,534

$1M+

66.4%33,105

Rent Distribution

Under $500

618

$500–$750

407

$750–$1,000

694

$1,000–$1,250

2,071

$1,250–$1,500

1,721

$1,500–$2,000

2,232

$2,000+

53,286

Year Built

2020 or later

3.6%4,302

2010–2019

29.5%35,450

2000–2009

20%24,095

1990–1999

11.3%13,526

1980–1989

14.9%17,947

1970–1979

16.4%19,715

1960–1969

2.8%3,417

1950–1959

0.7%842

1940–1949

0.1%151

1939 or earlier

0.6%761

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

60.8%68,130

Electricity

34.8%39,057

Bottled/LP Gas

1.6%1,742

No Fuel

1.4%1,545

Solar

0.9%990

Fuel Oil

0.3%337

Other

0.1%135

Wood

0.1%83

Coal

0.1%72

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$136,719

Mean Household Incomei

$175,308

Per Capita Incomei

$64,055

Poverty Ratei

10.3%

Unemploymenti

5.8%

Labor Forcei

169,183

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6%6,781

$10K–$15K

1.7%1,940

$15K–$20K

1.7%1,891

$20K–$25K

1.8%2,008

$25K–$30K

1.7%1,882

$30K–$35K

1.4%1,608

$35K–$40K

1.9%2,176

$40K–$45K

1.9%2,185

$45K–$50K

1.3%1,423

$50K–$60K

3.3%3,678

$60K–$75K

5.5%6,113

$75K–$100K

8.5%9,548

$100K–$125K

9.7%10,848

$125K–$150K

7.6%8,551

$150K–$200K

13.6%15,239

$200K+

32.3%36,220

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,490

Residentsi

5,330

Avg. Tenant Renti

$771/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

26 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers1,759 homes82% occupied$863/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8708 homes99% occupied$550/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

811/PRAC23 homes90% occupied$559/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $136,719/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $41K/yr

86%

Very low income$41K–$68K/yr

10.3%

Low income$68K–$109K/yr

3.7%

Who Receives This Housing

70.2% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

53.4% of subsidized households are minority

20.4% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

55% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

124,11339.8%

By Region

Top Countries

China

24,857

Korea

14,767

India

11,843

Mexico

4,014

Philippines

3,934

Canada

2,097

United Kingdom

1,691

Germany

425

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

155,297

Avg. Commutei

24.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

159,006

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,004(2.5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96%Insured

4%Uninsured