Population 90,757 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Carson
Household size in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.73 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.78 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.70 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.49 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Carson is a place of big households: 3.49 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.73, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.1 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.2 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.6 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Carson is 42.7 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 36.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Carson than nationally: 13.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Carson
Renters in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.0% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.9% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Carson rent their homes (26.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Just over a third of owners (34.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.3% of homes in Carson are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. The Los Angeles area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Carson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,317 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,465 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,660 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,228 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$911 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Carson pays $2,228 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $911 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Carson
Bachelor's degrees in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Carson than nationally: 29.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.1% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.2% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.8% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.7% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Carson never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Still, the rate is higher than in the wider Los Angeles area (82.1%). The share with a diploma is up 5.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Carson
| Period | Carson | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Carson: 7.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.2 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Carson compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | 3.49 | 42.7 | 13.3% | 26.0% | 5.3% | 1966 | $2,228 | 29.5% | 84.7% | 7.3% |
| West Carson | 2.63 | 45.4 | 8.0% | 29.7% | 5.5% | 1973 | $2,064 | 37.6% | 86.4% | 5.5% |
| Harbor City | 2.93 | 38.5 | 14.8% | 49.8% | 5.1% | 1976 | $1,790 | 31.8% | 83.2% | 7.9% |
| Wilmington | 3.49 | 36.1 | 18.9% | 56.5% | 4.3% | 1965 | $1,723 | 13.4% | 63.4% | 7.0% |
| Torrance | 2.71 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 47.7% | 7.7% | 1964 | $2,478 | 50.1% | 93.0% | 6.2% |
| Lomita | 2.75 | 41.4 | 10.0% | 53.3% | 8.7% | 1966 | $1,986 | 36.6% | 86.8% | 4.5% |
| Compton | 3.87 | 34.3 | 18.6% | 41.1% | 5.6% | 1959 | $1,764 | 11.3% | 66.9% | 7.8% |
| Gardena | 2.91 | 40.2 | 15.1% | 49.8% | 5.2% | 1964 | $1,887 | 28.3% | 80.1% | 6.4% |
| East Rancho Dominguez | 4.31 | 34.6 | 19.6% | 46.0% | 3.7% | 1952 | $1,748 | 6.6% | 54.2% | 8.1% |
| Willowbrook | 3.57 | 36.0 | 19.0% | 48.2% | 5.2% | 1961 | $1,611 | 12.2% | 62.1% | 11.3% |
| Long Beach | 2.78 | 38.3 | 14.4% | 58.7% | 6.4% | 1960 | $2,041 | 34.5% | 81.8% | 6.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cumming, GA · Cordova, TN · Carlsbad, CA · Clinton Township, MI · Cary, NC · Cicero, IL · Chino, CA · Chino Hills, CA · Cedar Rapids, IA · Charlotte, NC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Carson. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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