![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IDB-L-ROOFER-1210-1.jpg\")
A sea of low hanging clouds surrounds the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as roofers stack roof tiles onto new homes under construction in Chino on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)<\/p>\nA sea of low hanging clouds surrounds the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains as roofers stack roof tiles onto new homes under construction in Chino on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)<\/p>\n
One part of Southern California\u2019s housing solution is building homes where few existed previously.<\/p>\n
Three local examples of swift housing production were found in my trusty spreadsheet\u2019s review of RentCafe\u2019s ranking<\/a> of what the authors called the nation\u2019s \u201cnewest\u201d communities \u2013 the 50 ZIP codes that added the most occupied housing between 2014 and 2023, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data.<\/p>\n Here in Southern California, the fast-growing trio of Chino\u2019s 91708, Irvine\u2019s 92618 and Los Angeles\u2019 90094 shows how old land can get a new life, and just how different our local housing markets can be.<\/p>\n Remember, RentCafe\u2019s list focuses on places that were barely blips on the map a decade ago.<\/p>\n These top 50 ZIPs started with an average 3,000 homes in 2014 and ballooned to 8,000 in just nine years. Populations also took off, jumping from 8,500 to 22,000 on average.<\/p>\n Booming in Chino<\/p>\n Chino\u2019s 91708 ZIP code took the top spot for growth. Most of this area is The Preserve at Chino, a master-planned community built by the Lewis family, long-time Inland Empire developers, on what was once dairy land. It\u2019s an area just north of the 91 freeway and close to Prado Dam.<\/p>\n The housing stock grew 1,318% \u2013 yes, 14-fold \u2013 from 398 to 5,645 in nine years as its population jumped 402% to 17,308.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a classic Inland Empire tale: affordable homes pulling in young families. Take a look at the demographics, based on Census Report\u2019s census data analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n This slice of Chino has a median age of 33, household incomes of $109,000, and 36% of the adult population having college degrees, who are drawn to homes with a $689,000 median value, modest for Southern California. The typical residence has 3.3 people, with 73% of households being married couples.<\/p>\n Irvine\u2019s 92618 ZIP code ranks as the nation\u2019s 20th-fastest-growing, largely thanks to the Great Park Neighborhoods that rose where the old El Toro military airbase once stood.<\/p>\n Housing here jumped 172%, from 9,722 to 26,470 units in nine years. The population nearly tripled, too, up 192% to 62,296.<\/p>\n Demographically speaking<\/a>, it\u2019s a far more upscale community than the one that blossomed in Chino.<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s also a youthful place, with a median age of 34 \u2013 but wealthier and better educated: $146,000 household incomes, with 74% having a college degree. Homes have a median value of $1.24 million. Again, it\u2019s family-oriented: 2.6 people per residence and 65% married couples.<\/p>\n At No. 50 is Los Angeles 90094, part of the Playa Vista development that turned the old Hughes Aircraft manufacturing campus into a residential neighborhood near Marina Del Ray.<\/p>\n Its 115% growth pushing housing stock from 3,163 to 6,786 as the population doubled to 12,127.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a very West L.A. demographic,<\/a> appealing to a well-to-do but slightly older crowd with few children.<\/p>\n The 38 median age has a $146,000 household income as 83% have college degrees. The homes are valued at a median of $1.36 million, but there are just 1.9 people per residence, and only 50% are married couples.<\/p>\n Only one other California ZIP made this fast-growth list, Friant 93626 at No. 30.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an example of how some Californians have moved far inland. This tiny neighborhood is north of Fresno, in old gold-mining country, where the Friant Dam turns the San Joaquin River into Millerton Lake.<\/p>\n Its 1,260 housing units reflect 144% growth in nine years as its population grew by 274% to 3,039.<\/p>\n By the way, California\u2019s four ZIPs on this fast-growth list ranked it third among the states, tied with Florida. No. 1 was Texas at 17. No. 2 was Colorado at 7.<\/p>\n Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Randy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCR-L-APARTMENT-RENT-0206-03-WP.jpg\")
Randy Furbush, 24, stands outside his apartment complex in Homecoming at the Preserve in Chino on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. Furbush has recently moved into his one-bedroom apartment after failing to find affordable housing in Orange County where he works in healthcare. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise\/SCNG)
\nBooming in Irvine<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OCR-L-IRVINEPLAN-0816-JG-05.jpg\")
New homes are under construction in the Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine, CA, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)
\nBooming in L.A.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/LDN-L-PetSpace-05-MS.jpg\")
A giant human hamster wheel with a mechanical clawing cat is part of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace interactive community and adoption center in Playa Vista. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register\/SCNG)
\nStately thinking<\/p>\n