CLIPBOARD : Vacancy Rates

The percentage of vacant housing units in Orange County has increased slightly, moving from 5.46% in January, 1990, to 5.56% in January, 1991. There is a strong regional aspect to the latest figures, with five South County cities topping the 1991 list. Laguna Beach has the highest rate this year; La Palma the lowest.

Bucking the overall change, 18 cities recorded drops in vacancy, led by the 1.58% decrease in Dana Point. That change allowed Dana Point to drop from No. 1 on last year’s list to No. 2 this year. Brea’s 0.95% change was the biggest increase.

Here’s how the cities compare, listed from highest 1991 vacancy rate to lowest:

% Vacant % Vacant 1990- Jan. Jan. 1991 City 1990 1991 Change Laguna Beach 13.61 13.27 -0.34 Dana Point 14.20 12.62 -1.58 Newport Beach 11.32 11.80 +0.48 San Clemente 10.86 10.84 -0.02 Laguna Niguel 9.06 9.04 -0.02 Seal Beach 7.20 7.21 +0.01 Unincorporated areas 5.53 6.43 +0.90 San Juan Capistrano 6.43 6.40 -0.03 Anaheim 5.77 6.13 +0.36 Costa Mesa 5.65 5.43 -0.22 Huntington Beach 5.35 5.30 -0.05 Fullerton 4.86 5.11 +0.25 Irvine 5.03 4.92 -0.11 Tustin 5.01 4.76 -0.25 Mission Viejo 4.70 4.50 -0.20 Santa Ana 4.54 4.38 -0.16 Buena Park 4.57 4.27 -0.30 Brea 3.27 4.22 +0.95 Stanton 4.40 4.19 -0.21 Los Alamitos 3.76 4.03 +0.27 Orange 3.23 3.61 +0.38 Fountain Valley 3.31 3.26 -0.05 Villa Park 3.66 3.18 -0.48 Westminster 3.00 3.10 +0.10 Yorba Linda 3.45 3.08 -0.37 Cypress 2.94 3.07 +0.13 Garden Grove 3.11 2.97 -0.14 La Habra 3.33 2.96 -0.37 Placentia 2.64 2.86 +0.22 La Palma 2.47 2.60 +0.13 COUNTY TOTAL 5.46 5.56 +0.10

Source: California Department of Finance, demographic research unit

Researched by: KATHIE BOZANICH / Los Angeles Times