A six-figure salary is now considered "low-income" in Orange County, California, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The agency released its 2026 state income limits, revealing that a single-person household earning $104,200 or less annually qualifies for low-income housing assistance. This threshold represents a significant increase from last year's cutoff of $94,750. The adjustment reflects skyrocketing real estate prices, which have pushed the low-income threshold higher than the county's median individual income.
The updated limits determine eligibility for income-restricted apartments and local housing assistance programs. The California Guaranteed Income Advocacy Group has recommended making the policy permanent, funded by "dedicated local taxes."
A 2024 survey by the University of California, Irvine found that 51% of Orange County residents have considered relocating, with 75% of potential "leavers" citing housing costs as their primary reason. Data from the California Association of Realtors shows that only 18% of households in the county earn enough to afford a median-priced home, currently valued at $1.44 million. Statewide, just 55.3% of Californians own their homes, highlighting the affordability crisis.
As housing costs and tax burdens remain high, California's major metropolitan areas continue to experience population declines. Los Angeles County led the nation in population loss last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.