In Orange County, California, a six-figure annual income is now classified as low-income. According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2026 state income limits, a household with a single person earning $104,200 or less per year qualifies for low-income housing assistance. This is a notable increase from last year’s cutoff of $94,750.
The state releases these limits annually to determine eligibility for income-restricted apartments and local housing assistance programs. High real estate prices in the area have raised the low-income threshold beyond the median individual income, reflecting a severe affordability crisis.
A survey by the University of California, Irvine, in 2024 highlights the impact of these housing challenges. It found that 51% of the county’s residents have considered moving elsewhere, with the high cost of housing being a primary reason for 75% of them.
Homeownership is increasingly seen as unattainable in the region. Figures from the California Association of Realtors indicate that only 18% of households meet the minimum income to afford a median-priced home in Orange County, where prices average around $1.44 million. Statewide, just over half of Californians own their homes.
Population declines accompany the ongoing housing issues and tax burdens in major Californian cities. Los Angeles County experienced the most significant population loss last year, with a reduction of 53,421 residents. This continues a trend seen since 2020, with the population decreasing from 10 million to 9.7 million.
San Francisco also struggles with a stagnant population, despite economic growth from the artificial intelligence sector. Issues such as high living costs, homelessness, and retail crime persist.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact the California Department of Housing and Community Development for comments on these developments.
This report by Fox News Digital was contributed to by Kristen Altus, with reporting by Joshua Q. Nelson focusing on cultural trends, education, and public policy. Joshua joined Fox News Digital in 2019 after graduating from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Public Policy program.