Mission Viejo was originally marketed as attainable housing for young families—and it delivered.
The first homes sold in 1965 for $21,000, roughly a 2-to-1 ratio compared to the median Orange County household income of $9,500.
Today, that affordability is a distant memory. The median home price has reached $1,100,000, compared with a median household income of $136,570—a ratio of 8-to-1, nearly four times what it was 60 years ago.
The numbers reveal how the gap between incomes and home prices has become one of Orange County’s defining challenges.
Even with the high cost of living, Mission Viejo remains a coveted place to raise a family and live the American Dream. In April 2026, the expected time to sell a home in the area was 80 days. The three-year average before COVID was 65 days.
