Population 110,938 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Downey
Household size in Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.31 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.41 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.41 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.21 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Downey is a place of big households: 3.21 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has dropped from 3.31 in 2006–10, 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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.5 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.3 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Downey are younger than 38.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.5, in line with the national trend.
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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Downey (16.8%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Downey has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
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 Downey
Renters in Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.6% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 49.4% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 50.1% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 48.9% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Downey than nationally: 48.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 30.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east.
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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.5% of homes in Downey are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Downey has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of California cities.
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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Downey is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 59 have older homes.
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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,216 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,346 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,547 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,036 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$820 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Downey runs $2,036 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area overall ($2,279). Rent has climbed $820 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Downey
Bachelor's degrees in Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Downey (26.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.7 points, 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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.7% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.2% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.6% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.0% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Downey never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The picture is much the same across the Los Angeles area. The share with a diploma is up 5.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Downey
| Period | Downey | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.7%, unemployment in Downey is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider Los Angeles area (6.7%). Unemployment is down 3.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Downey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downey | 3.21 | 38.9 | 16.8% | 48.9% | 4.5% | 1961 | $2,036 | 26.4% | 81.0% | 5.7% |
| Bell Gardens | 3.92 | 32.7 | 27.0% | 78.8% | 3.6% | 1962 | $1,701 | 6.7% | 52.6% | 5.4% |
| Santa Fe Springs | 3.37 | 39.8 | 9.7% | 37.7% | 4.2% | 1968 | $2,036 | 22.1% | 77.7% | 4.0% |
| Paramount | 3.63 | 34.6 | 18.9% | 57.6% | 2.0% | 1970 | $1,907 | 14.8% | 67.8% | 5.7% |
| Cudahy | 3.91 | 31.1 | 30.9% | 85.7% | 4.2% | 1967 | $1,688 | 5.9% | 57.7% | 9.7% |
| Bellflower | 3.25 | 37.0 | 17.5% | 60.7% | 4.7% | 1966 | $1,939 | 21.4% | 80.2% | 7.3% |
| Norwalk | 3.74 | 38.1 | 14.2% | 31.7% | 3.0% | 1961 | $2,207 | 21.0% | 76.8% | 5.5% |
| South Gate | 3.69 | 36.3 | 18.1% | 54.6% | 3.3% | 1953 | $1,615 | 11.2% | 59.5% | 7.5% |
| Bell | 3.51 | 34.0 | 23.8% | 73.3% | 3.9% | 1956 | $1,617 | 9.1% | 57.8% | 7.2% |
| Lynwood | 4.17 | 34.3 | 24.4% | 52.4% | 4.4% | 1954 | $1,658 | 10.6% | 59.8% | 9.5% |
| Pico Rivera | 3.68 | 40.1 | 13.9% | 29.5% | 4.9% | 1958 | $1,963 | 16.4% | 72.5% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Philadelphia, PA · Pharr, TX · Modesto, CA · Mechanicsburg, PA · Minneapolis, MN · Middletown, OH · Maryville, TN · Mission, TX · Melbourne, FL · McKinney, TX
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 Downey. 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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