CLIPBOARD : Shallow Roots

More than half of Orange County’s residents, 55%, have lived at their current residence for less than six years. Five years ago, the number was almost exactly the same--56%. At the other end of the scale, about a third--32%--of residents have been in their homes more than a decade, a slight increase from the 27% recorded five years ago.

Length of residence varies markedly by age and region of the county. Younger people--that is, those less than 35 years old--are decidedly more likely to be short-term residents than are their elders. And regionally, South County residents are more likely the recent move-ins. Household income is less indicative, though residents in the $36,000-$50,000 range are somewhat more likely to have moved in during the last five years.

Less than 3-5 6-10 11-20 More than 3 years Years Years Years 20 years 1990 TOTAL 35% 20% 13% 22% 10% AGE 18-34 years 57 22 8 10 3 35-54 years 27 23 19 25 6 55 and older 15 9 11 36 29 REGION * North 35 14 14 23 14 West 28 19 14 27 12 Central 33 22 11 21 13 South 42 24 13 19 2 HOUSEHOLD INCOME Less than $36,000 37 18 10 24 11 $36,000-$50,000 40 21 15 16 8 $50,001-79,999 34 20 11 24 11 $80,000 and more 31 21 19 22 7

*Regions

North: Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park, Yorba Linda.

Central: Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Tustin, Tustin foothills.

West: Cypress, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Rossmoor, Stanton, Seal Beach, Westminster.

South: Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, El Toro, Emerald Bay, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Silverado, South Laguna.

LENGTH OF RESIDENCE

County residents were asked the following question: “How long have you lived at your current residence? Here’s how 1990 compared to 1986: Less than 2 years 1986: 39 1990: 35 3-5 years 1986: 17 1990: 20 6-10 years 1986: 17 1990: 13 11-20 years 1986: 18 1990: 22 More than 20 years 1986: 9 1990: 10 Source: Orange County Annual Survey by Mark Baldassare, UCI