2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Tustin

California (CA)
Best for: Residents seeking an established Orange County base
Tustin CA 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability73.2/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population77,843
Median Home$950,400
Median Rent$2,449
Median Household Income$112,503
Cost of LivingRPP 113.6 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute22.8 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment5.4% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaLos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

73.2overall
Housing & Financial Reality41.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living84.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability77.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity74.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness82.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place71.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion71.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape76.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging74.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment85.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture70.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity79.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionACS average one-way commute: 22.8 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Workplace location and departure time still determine individual travel. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeNearby Peters Canyon Regional Park offers trails through foothill habitat. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 51/100 (directory checked October 2026). Some errands can be done on foot; conditions vary by neighborhood.
Airport AccessJohn Wayne Airport (SNA) is a regional air-travel option. Check the airport for current destinations; no drive-time estimate is assumed.
Outdoor AccessNearby Peters Canyon Regional Park offers trails through foothill habitat.
Healthcare AccessProvidence St. Joseph Hospital Orange in nearby Orange provides a local or nearby hospital option. Check insurance networks, service availability and specialist access individually.
Air QualityAir quality changes by day and season. Check AirNow for local ozone and fine-particle conditions, particularly during heat or smoke events; no citywide annual AQI rating is assigned here.
Third Places / Social LifeTustin's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A developed inland Orange County city with older neighborhood centers and newer residential districts. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Declining slightly: -0.6% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Tustin has 77,843 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #486 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $950,400, median monthly gross rent of $2,449, and median household income of $112,503. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. Nearby Peters Canyon Regional Park offers trails through foothill habitat. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A developed inland Orange County city with older neighborhood centers and newer residential districts.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Relatively short average commute; Access to Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange in nearby Orange; Nearby Peters Canyon Regional Park offers trails through foothill habitat.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

High housing costs, regional traffic and inland summer heat.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Tustin ranks