When The Real Housewives of Orange County first debuted 20 years ago, it put a major spotlight on Orange County, California. The stunning county now serves as the main filming location for all of the fights, drama, tears and laughter we’ve come to know and love in two decades of RHOC.
How to Watch
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
The RHOC Season 20 cast includes Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Carmella Garcia, and the ‘Wives have welcomed fans into their OC homes on the series.
Throughout the years, the cast has also made local spots in Orange County like The Quiet Woman infamous. And although the RHOC casts have vacationed both in state, in places like San Francisco and Lake Havasu, they’ve also partied internationally in locales such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, and Iceland. But at the end of it all, the ‘Wives have always called Orange County home.
Below, find out more about RHOC’s filming locations.
Where is Orange County located?
Orange County, California is located in Southern California, just south of Los Angeles County, but north of San Diego County.
It’s home to a little more than 3 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and the median value of owned houses at last check was $962,600.
Orange County’s major cities include Anaheim (home of Disneyland Park), Santa Ana, and Irvine, but it’s also known for its spots directly along the Pacific Coast, including Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and the place many of the RHOC Season 20 cast call home: Newport Beach.
Where does The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20 cast live?
Almost the entire RHOC Season 20 cast lives in Orange County, and multiple Housewives also own or rent other homes in other locations as well.
Where does Vicki Gunvalson live?
Where does Tamra Judge live?
RELATED: Tamra Judge Reveals Her & Eddie’s Surprising Next Move if They Sell Their OC House (EXCLUSIVE)
Where does Shannon Storms Beador live?
Where does Heather Dubrow live?
In 2024, Heather and Terry were renting a home in Newport Beach, but it is unclear if they still have a home there today.
Where does Gina Kirschenheiter live?
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Where does Emily Simpson live?
Where does Jennifer Pedranti live?
Where does Carmella Garcia live?
How the location of Orange County was the inspiration for the Real Housewives franchise
Orange County is more than just a location, it’s a lifestyle. At least that’s according to Scott Dunlop, who was an original show producer on RHOC Season 1. He shared with The Los Angeles Times that after he moved to the gated community of Coto de Caza, his fascination with his neighbors and neighborhood sparked the idea for RHOC.
“I was just watching and observing here in Coto. The ladies were here; the men would leave the ranch, as we call it. The original vision I had was to do a parody of life in affluent suburbs, but with plenty of reality in it,” Dunlop shared with the outlet, and added RHOC Season 1 cast member Jeana Keough was the first neighbor he met.
Andy Cohen admitted to the outlet that the location was what sold him on the first Real Housewives series. “I was really intrigued by the fact they all lived in this gated community and that was very soap opera-y to me,” he added.
Check out what the cast of RHOC Season 20 teased on the show’s landmark season.
