What are the schools like in Orinda, CA?

Orinda is served primarily by Orinda Union. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.1:1.

What is the median household income in Orinda?

The median household income in Orinda, CA is $250,001 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Orinda, CA?

Orinda has an average high temperature of 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.8 inches.

Orinda, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Orinda, CA affordable or expensive?

Orinda's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Orinda is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,737,200 and the median rent is $2,393 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Orinda, CA?

Orinda has a violent crime rate of 57.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 880.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Orinda, CA a Good Place to Live?

Orinda is a small city of 19,477 in California, with a median household income of $250,001 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Orinda stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Orinda is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Orinda city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Orinda's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Orinda costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Orinda, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,737,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,393	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	92.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$250,001	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Orinda's violent crime rate is 57.0 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

57.0 /100k

Property Crime

880.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Orinda is served primarily by Orinda Union. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Orinda, CA	National Avg
School District	Orinda Union	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	86.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Orinda sees average highs of 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July, with 26.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Orinda, CA
Average High — January	58.9°F
Average High — July	74.2°F
Annual Precipitation	26.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Orinda, CA	National Avg
Population	19,477	—
Median Age	49.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	14.8%	6.3%
Under 18	24.5%	22.2%
65 and over	23.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lafayette, CA 3 mi Moraga, CA 4 mi Saranap, CA 5 mi Acalanes Ridge, CA 5 mi Piedmont, CA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Orinda

Orinda, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

94563

Orinda vs Other Cities

Orinda, CA vs Lafayette, CA Orinda, CA vs Moraga, CA Orinda, CA vs Saranap, CA Orinda, CA vs Acalanes Ridge, CA Orinda, CA vs Piedmont, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orinda, CA affordable or expensive?

Orinda's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Orinda roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,737,200 and median rent is $2,393/month.

What is the crime rate in Orinda, CA?

Orinda's violent crime rate is 57.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 880.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Orinda?

Public schools in Orinda are operated by Orinda Union. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.1:1. 86.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Orinda, CA a good place to live?

Orinda, CA has a population of 19,477, a median household income of $250,001, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Orinda?

Orinda averages 58.9°F in January and 74.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Orinda?

Orinda, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 94563.

What is the population of Orinda?

The population of Orinda, California is 19,477 with a median age of 49.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Orinda?

Key numbers for living in Orinda: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $1,737,200, median household income $250,001, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Orinda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.