Car Washes in Orange County, CA — Market Data (2023)
230 car washes 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 0.733 establishments per 10,000 residents, 31.6% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents for car washes. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 230 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 0.733 |
| Employment | 2,837 |
| Annual payroll | $97,144,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 12.3 |
| County population (2023) | 3,135,755 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower car washes density than Orange County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- San Bernardino County, CA: 0.733 per 10,000 residents (161 establishments)
- Tarrant County, TX: 0.715 per 10,000 residents (156 establishments)
- Mecklenburg County, NC: 0.705 per 10,000 residents (82 establishments)
- Fulton County, GA: 0.695 per 10,000 residents (75 establishments)
See the full Car Washes by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many car washes are there in Orange County, CA?
230 car washes operate in Orange County, CA, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the car washes market in Orange County, CA saturated compared to the national average?
Orange County, CA has 0.733 car washes per 10,000 residents, which is 31.6% above the national average of 0.5569 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a car washe business in Orange County, CA?
The average car washe business in Orange County, CA has about 12.3 employees (2,837 total employment ÷ 230 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for car washes?
Yes — San Bernardino County, CA has a lower density (0.733 per 10,000 residents) than Orange County, CA, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.