TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT

To outsiders, Orange County may be a homogenous community tied together by sunshine and wretched traffic snarls. But there is a definite class distinction here, too, dividing the “haves” from the “have nots” -- homeownership. What, besides relentless appreciation, cleaves the owner and renter classes? Demographics and, to some extent, outlook. Owners are: more highly educated than renters; older; more affluent; more Republican (but more Democratic, too, owing to renters’ lack of political affiliation), and less mobile.

Owners Renters EDUCATION: College/post-graduate degree 44 31 Some college 34 43 High school graduate or less 22 26 POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Republican 55 45 Democrat 30 25 Independent 4 5 Other 1 3 Not registered 10 22 AGE: 18-24 years 9 21 25-34 18 42 35-44 30 20 45-64 29 11 65 and older 14 6 HOUSEHOLD INCOME: More than $50,000 46 17 $25,000-$50,000 43 52 Less than $25,000 11 31 HAVE LIVED IN PRESENT HOME: 2 years or less 28 68 3-5 years 15 18 6-10 years 22 10 More than 10 years 35 4

The attitudinal lines are less distinct: Both owners and renters think that in terms of the quality of life, things are going well in Orange County, but both groups are pessimistic about the future; For both, the single-family detached home is an ideal (but owners are much more likely to have already achieved that dream), and Owners are somewhat happier now, but renters are more likely to think things will be better for them next year.

Owners Renters QUALITY OF LIFE IN ORANGE COUNTY: Going very well 39 34 Going somewhat well 49 52 Going somewhat badly 10 10 Going very badly 2 4 FUTURE ORANGE COUNTY WILL BE: Better place to live 28 22 Worse place to live 53 56 No change 19 22 IDEAL HOME: Single-family detached 82 78 Single-family attached 12 13 Apartment 2 7 Mobile home/other 4 2 PRESENTLY LIVE IN: Single-family detached 63 19 Single-family attached 28 23 Apartment 2 56 Mobile home/other 7 2 CURRENT OUTLOOK: Very happy 48 37 Pretty happy 46 51 Not too happy 6 12 NEXT YEAR WILL BE: Better off 60 72 Worse off 2 2 Same 38 26

Source: Orange County Annual Survey by Mark Baldassare, UCI