2026 Orange County
Jewish Demography Study
For the first time, a demographic study offers insights into the size, characteristics, locations, and current needs of the Orange County Jewish community. Funded by the Samueli Foundation and conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, the study draws directly on the voices of thousands of community members to build the most complete picture of Jewish life in Orange County ever assembled.
The study's findings can be organized into four sections.
Start with the Overview to understand key demographic information about the local Jewish community.
Explore the other mini reports to engage more deeply on specific topics.
Read across them to develop your own perspective on the experiences of Jewish people in Orange County.
01Overview
OC's Jewish Community at a Glance
A demographic overview of the community, including size, age, geography, household composition, and more.
93,500Jewish Individuals
57,000Jewish Households
5%Of All OC Households
Age
The OC Jewish community skews older than the general OC and U.S. Jewish populations as a whole.
Gender
The OC Jewish population including all adults and children.
54%
Female
45%
Male
Note: 1% Prefer to self-describe
Region by Age
Orange County Jewish HouseholdsOC Households
22–44 Yrs45–54 Yrs55–64 Yrs65–74 Yrs75+ Yrs
Employment & Education
A closer look at employment and educational attainment reveals a highly educated and actively engaged community.
Employment Status
62% Working
38% Not working
Section 02
Daily Life
An exploration of the financial circumstances, health and well-being, and patterns of residence in Orange County.
Can Jewish people in Orange County actually make ends meet?
Does our community have access to the physical and mental health supports they need?
How is the composition of the Orange County Jewish community evolving?
Section 03
Jewish Life
A dive into personal Jewish identity and connection, ritual practices, and engagement with Jewish institutions and community.
How do members of our community express their Jewish identities?
What barriers keep people from participating in Jewish life in OC?
Are Jewish children participating in key identity formation experiences?
Section 04
Hot Topics
Perspectives on key topics facing the community, including antisemitism, Israel, and politics.
Where is the community more aligned than we might have thought?
Where are there opportunities to bridge divides?
How can we work together to combat antisemitism?
Learn More
Visit the reports page to see all available studies of the 2026 Orange County Jewish Demography Study
