Bars in Orange County, CA — Market Data (2023)
243 bars operate in Orange County, CA, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 0.775 establishments per 10,000 residents, 34.9% below the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents for bars. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 243 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 0.775 |
| Employment | 3,596 |
| Annual payroll | $84,499,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 14.8 |
| County population (2023) | 3,135,755 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower bars density than Orange County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Hillsborough County, FL: 0.775 per 10,000 residents (119 establishments)
- Los Angeles County, CA: 0.765 per 10,000 residents (739 establishments)
- Santa Clara County, CA: 0.692 per 10,000 residents (130 establishments)
- Contra Costa County, CA: 0.606 per 10,000 residents (70 establishments)
See the full Bars by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many bars are there in Orange County, CA?
243 bars operate in Orange County, CA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the bars market in Orange County, CA saturated compared to the national average?
Orange County, CA has 0.775 bars per 10,000 residents, which is 34.9% below the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents. That means fewer competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a bar business in Orange County, CA?
The average bar business in Orange County, CA has about 14.8 employees (3,596 total employment ÷ 243 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for bars?
Yes — Hillsborough County, FL has a lower density (0.775 per 10,000 residents) than Orange County, CA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.