Orange County cities rank among nation's fastest real-income growers, survey finds

A recent SmartAsset study of the 94 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas examined real income growth for 2024, revealing that several Orange County locales rank among the nation’s leaders. Anaheim recorded a 16% increase, the second-largest jump in the country, while Irvine and Santa Ana placed seventh and 14th respectively. Analysts attributed the gains to a combination of a higher state minimum wage for fast-food workers, expansion of healthcare and medical-device firms, and the presence of UC Irvine’s research park attracting well-paid researchers and startups.

The report also noted that Fresno entered the top-20, driven by Bay-Area residents relocating amid high housing costs, and that San Francisco and San José saw modest growth despite already high income levels. SmartAsset spokesperson Toby Nelson cautioned that the data reflect income outpacing inflation but do not directly measure cost-of-living pressures. Continued investment in Southern California’s tech and biotech sectors could sustain the upward trend.