Lake Elsinore, CA

This city of 76,289 residents needs 3,955 more housing units over the next five years. Lake Elsinore is part of the Southern California Association of Governments.

Housing snapshot

Population
76,289 (2026)
Households
21,406
Median household income
$116,998 (2026)
Typical home value
$562,019
Owner-occupied
68%
Five-year housing need
3,955 units

Comparison to other California municipalities

Lake Elsinore: $116,998 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$27K >$231K
Lake Elsinore: 0.82 jobs to household ratio
<0.15 >2.52
Lake Elsinore: Permits since 2021 represent 6.9% of housing
<0% >10.5%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Lake Elsinore, CA, the typical home price of $562,019 is below the California average of $713,253. At a median household income of $116,998 in Lake Elsinore, CA, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $21,961 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Lake Elsinore, CA has a population of roughly 72,461, growing steadily at 2.2% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Lake Elsinore, CA is a growing community of roughly 21,406 households, with population increasing at 2.2% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Lake Elsinore, CA is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 79% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Lake Elsinore, CA, with 68% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Lake Elsinore, CA needs 3,955 new units over the next 5 years.

2,466
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
11.5%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 21,406 in 2026 to 23,872 in 2031.
1,489
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
46
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.4 per 1,000 units.
112
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.7%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
304
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.9%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
1,027
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 8.4%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
3,955
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
791
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
18.5%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
3.7%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?