Which has more people, Orange County, CA or San Diego County, CA?

Orange County, CA has a population of 3,140,987 (6th of 3,094 US counties) and San Diego County, CA has 3,276,954 (5th of 3,094).

How do Orange County, CA and San Diego County, CA compare on Median Household Income?

Median Household Income: Orange County, CA $116,289 (65th of 3,093), San Diego County, CA $106,268 (117th of 3,093) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.

How do Orange County, CA and San Diego County, CA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?

Poverty Rate (%): Orange County, CA 9.5% (675th of 3,094), San Diego County, CA 10.3% (847th of 3,094) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.

Where does Orange County, CA beat San Diego County, CA most clearly?

Orange County, CA ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)): 4.1% vs 4.6%; Adults Who Binge Drink (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 16.1% vs 17.2%; Adults with Depression (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 19.4% vs 21.2%.

Where does San Diego County, CA beat Orange County, CA most clearly?

San Diego County, CA ranks far ahead on Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 20.4% vs 23.4%; Adults with Diabetes (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 9.4% vs 10.1%; Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 18.4% vs 19.9%.

Orange County, CA vs San Diego County, CA

Orange County, CA comes out ahead of San Diego County, CA on 20 of 31 statistics where one end is better, to 10 with 1 ties. Orange County, CA leads on Economics. San Diego County, CA leads on Health.

31 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 1 tie. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Orange County, CA

Wins: 20
Avg. percentile: 55
Categories led: 1

San Diego County, CA

Wins: 10
Avg. percentile: 54
Categories led: 1

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all US counties.

Statistic	Orange County, CA	San Diego County, CA
Population	3,140,987 6th of 3,094	3,276,954 5th of 3,094
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$116,289 65th of 3,093	$106,268 117th of 3,093
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	9.5% 675th of 3,094	10.3% 847th of 3,094
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	4.1% tied 1,616th of 3,094	4.6% tied 2,157th of 3,094
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	36.0% tied 1,159th of 3,094	34.5% tied 807th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	26.7 2,116th of 3,094	25.5 1,878th of 3,094
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,396 96th of 3,050	2,019 tied 280th of 3,050
Median Air Quality IndexAir Quality by County (EPA)	53 tied 926th of 960	67 tied 953rd of 960

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

HealthSan Diego County, CA · 11 statistics
EconomicsOrange County, CA · 9 statistics

Biggest differences

The 22 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 1,547 US counties.

Statistic	Orange County, CA	San Diego County, CA
Unemployment Rate (%)Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)	4.1% tied 1,616th of 3,094	4.6% tied 2,157th of 3,094
Adults Who Binge Drink (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	16.1% tied 776th of 2,916	17.2% tied 1,232nd of 2,916
Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	23.4% tied 734th of 2,916	20.4% tied 276th of 2,916
Adults with Diabetes (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	10.1% tied 1,070th of 2,916	9.4% tied 638th of 2,916
Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	19.9% tied 1,448th of 2,916	18.4% tied 1,045th of 2,916
Adults with Depression (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	19.4% tied 231st of 2,916	21.2% tied 560th of 2,916
Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	36.0% tied 1,159th of 3,094	34.5% tied 807th of 3,094
Average Commute (Minutes)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	26.7 2,116th of 3,094	25.5 1,878th of 3,094
Cooling Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,230 tied 1,690th of 3,050	1,413 tied 1,919th of 3,050
Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	9.2% tied 977th of 2,916	8.7% tied 759th of 2,916
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by County (1991–2020 Averages)	1,396 96th of 3,050	2,019 tied 280th of 3,050
Poverty Rate (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	9.5% 675th of 3,094	10.3% 847th of 3,094
Median IncomePoorest Counties	$116,289 65th of 2,000	$106,268 117th of 2,000
Median Household IncomeHousing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$116,289 65th of 3,093	$106,268 117th of 3,093
Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	71.7% tied 2,361st of 2,916	71.9% tied 2,313th of 2,916
Adults Who Smoke (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	9.3% tied 41st of 2,916	10.1% tied 87th of 2,916
Adults with Obesity (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	23.9% tied 33rd of 2,916	25.4% tied 55th of 2,916
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	44.1% 183rd of 3,094	43.2% 196th of 3,094
Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$962,600 3,079th of 3,092	$854,700 tied 3,068th of 3,092
Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	$2,434 3,086th of 3,090	$2,246 3,076th of 3,090
Homes with Broadband Internet (%)Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census)	95.0% 70th of 3,094	94.9% 71st of 3,094
Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)	16.6% tied 433rd of 2,916	16.6% tied 433rd of 2,916

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Orange County, CA or San Diego County, CA?: Orange County, CA comes out ahead of San Diego County, CA on 20 of 31 statistics where one end is better, to 10 with 1 ties. Orange County, CA leads on Economics. San Diego County, CA leads on Health. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Orange County, CA or San Diego County, CA?: Orange County, CA has a population of 3,140,987 (6th of 3,094 US counties) and San Diego County, CA has 3,276,954 (5th of 3,094).
How do Orange County, CA and San Diego County, CA compare on Median Household Income?: Median Household Income: Orange County, CA $116,289 (65th of 3,093), San Diego County, CA $106,268 (117th of 3,093) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.
How do Orange County, CA and San Diego County, CA compare on Poverty Rate (%)?: Poverty Rate (%): Orange County, CA 9.5% (675th of 3,094), San Diego County, CA 10.3% (847th of 3,094) among US counties. Orange County, CA ranks better.
Where does Orange County, CA beat San Diego County, CA most clearly?: Orange County, CA ranks far ahead on Unemployment Rate (%) (Unemployment Rate by County (BLS)): 4.1% vs 4.6%; Adults Who Binge Drink (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 16.1% vs 17.2%; Adults with Depression (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 19.4% vs 21.2%.
Where does San Diego County, CA beat Orange County, CA most clearly?: San Diego County, CA ranks far ahead on Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 20.4% vs 23.4%; Adults with Diabetes (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 9.4% vs 10.1%; Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%) (Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES)): 18.4% vs 19.9%.

More matchups

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