SCAG Releases Regional Analysis of 2024 American Community Survey Data: ‘Highs, Lows, and Shocks: Key Housing and Economic Trends in Southern California’ 

SCAG has published a new demographic analysis based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) one-year estimates: “Highs, Lows, and Shocks: Key Housing and Economic Trends in Southern California.” Published during the 2025 Southern California Demographic Workshop, hosted by SCAG and the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy on Oct. 1, the report uses ACS data to compare trends in the region to California and the United States across a range of housing and economic topics.  

Drawing on nearly two decades of annual ACS data, the report highlights how the SCAG region and its six counties compare with state and national trends across key indicators such as housing affordability, workforce patterns, and economic resilience.  

Key findings include:  

Remote Work Levels Off: After peaking at 19.3 percent in 2021, the share of residents working from home settled at 13.9 percent in 2024, just below last year’s 14.1 percent. 

Home Values Rebound: SoCal median home values (adjusted for inflation) were up again in the last year, from $789,000 to $808,000. Values increased in all six counties, but the real increase was by far the highest in Orange County (4.4 percent), which now has a median home value of $1.066 million. 

Rents Outpace Home Prices: Rent appreciation regionwide is even higher than home value growth, with inflation-adjusted median rents increasing by 3.0 percent from $2,089 to $2,151 over the last year. 

Younger Homeownership Stalls: Homeownership rates amongst younger adults (aged 25-44) were gradually increasing since their low point of 32.8 percent in 2016 (in 2006, this rate was as high as 44.7 percent). However, this growth slowed in the past year—amidst strong accessory dwelling units and rental apartment production as well as high mortgage interest rates.   

These findings provide local jurisdictions, planners, and policymakers with timely insights into the region’s evolving housing market and economic landscape.  

The full “Highs, Lows, and Shocks: Key Housing and Economic Trends in Southern California” report is available to download and read online.