The Real Housewives of Orange County Episode Ratings Heatmap
2006 · 20 Seasons · 366 Episodes · Overall Score: 6.8/10 (142 rated)
Season 20 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 20 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0), maintaining an average of 6.0.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6 | Season 7 | Season 8 | Season 9 | Season 10 | Season 11 | Season 12 | Season 13 | Season 14 | Season 15 | Season 16 | Season 17 | Season 18 | Season 19 | Season 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | – | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | – | – | 6.0 |
| Ep 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8.0 | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.0 | – | 5.0 | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | – | 9.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5.0 | 7.0 | – | – | 6.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 9.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | – | – | – |
| Ep 17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5.0 | – | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | 7.0 | – | – | 10.0 |
| Ep 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | – | 7.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 20 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | 7.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 21 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7.5 | – | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 22 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 23 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | 7.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 24 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 6.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 7.6 | – | – | 8.0 |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 20 seasons and 366 episodes, The Real Housewives of Orange County has earned an overall series rating of 6.8 out of 10. The series demonstrates an upward quality trajectory, with later seasons sustaining higher viewer acclaim than its debut.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 20, Episode 17 ("Reach For The Skytops"), rated at an extraordinary 10.0/10 with 1 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 8, Episode 10 ("Viva Mexico"), landing at 1.0/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 13 between Episode 2 ("One Apology, Another Betrayal", 8) and Episode 3 ("Tres Amigas", 3), a swing of 5 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 20, Ep 17 | Reach For The Skytops | 10.0 | 1 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| #2 | Season 15, Ep 10 | The Great OC Escape | 9.0 | 1 | Dec 16, 2020 |
| #3 | Season 17, Ep 8 | Backyard Bikini Clash | 9.0 | 1 | Jul 26, 2023 |
| #4 | Season 17, Ep 13 | Big News, Bigger Secret | 9.0 | 1 | Sep 6, 2023 |
| #5 | Season 17, Ep 14 | Viva La Tres Amigas | 9.0 | 1 | Sep 13, 2023 |
| #6 | Season 17, Ep 15 | The Tipping Point | 9.0 | 1 | Sep 20, 2023 |
| #7 | Season 10, Ep 5 | Game Changer | 8.0 | 1 | Jul 6, 2015 |
| #8 | Season 10, Ep 15 | Fire Signs | 8.0 | 1 | Sep 14, 2015 |
| #9 | Season 13, Ep 2 | One Apology, Another Betrayal | 8.0 | 1 | Jul 23, 2018 |
| #10 | Season 13, Ep 20 | Reunion (2) | 8.0 | 1 | Dec 2, 2018 |