Population 79,281 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lakewood
Household size in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.11 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.09 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.13 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.08 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Lakewood are large by national standards, averaging 3.08 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the southwest.
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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.9 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.7 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.3 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 40.3, the median age in Lakewood is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 36.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in ten households in Lakewood (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Lakewood
Renters in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.0% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.5% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Lakewood rent their homes (28.5%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 31.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the center. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Lakewood: just 4.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.8 points, mirroring the country. Only 62 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Lakewood is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 29 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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,458 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,619 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,973 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,467 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,009 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lakewood costs $2,467 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,009 a month from 2006–10, a 69% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the northwest.
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 Lakewood
Bachelor's degrees in Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.1% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.7% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Lakewood as nationally: 33.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is lower than in the wider Los Angeles area (37.6%). The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.9% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.7% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lakewood is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the Los Angeles area overall (82.1%). The share with a diploma is up 2.4 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 Lakewood
| Period | Lakewood | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.8%, unemployment in Lakewood is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider Los Angeles area (6.7%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.7 points, 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).
Lakewood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | 3.08 | 40.3 | 9.4% | 28.5% | 4.1% | 1958 | $2,467 | 33.1% | 90.5% | 4.8% |
| Artesia | 3.46 | 42.0 | 9.3% | 50.4% | 7.5% | 1968 | $2,050 | 32.3% | 78.5% | 10.2% |
| Bellflower | 3.25 | 37.0 | 17.5% | 60.7% | 4.7% | 1966 | $1,939 | 21.4% | 80.2% | 7.3% |
| Hawaiian Gardens | 3.61 | 38.0 | 20.3% | 56.1% | 5.3% | 1966 | $1,732 | 16.9% | 67.6% | 4.3% |
| Cerritos | 3.00 | 48.4 | 5.4% | 24.3% | 2.6% | 1973 | $3,005 | 57.6% | 94.0% | 5.1% |
| Long Beach | 2.78 | 38.3 | 14.4% | 58.7% | 6.4% | 1960 | $2,041 | 34.5% | 81.8% | 6.7% |
| Paramount | 3.63 | 34.6 | 18.9% | 57.6% | 2.0% | 1970 | $1,907 | 14.8% | 67.8% | 5.7% |
| La Palma | 2.99 | 44.5 | 10.1% | 31.4% | 3.4% | 1971 | $2,554 | 49.2% | 93.1% | 3.6% |
| Signal Hill | 2.49 | 41.9 | 10.3% | 50.0% | 7.6% | 1976 | $2,180 | 37.6% | 87.8% | 5.3% |
| Norwalk | 3.74 | 38.1 | 14.2% | 31.7% | 3.0% | 1961 | $2,207 | 21.0% | 76.8% | 5.5% |
| Los Alamitos | 2.68 | 39.3 | 15.6% | 54.4% | 6.5% | 1973 | $2,575 | 44.4% | 95.1% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Honolulu, HI · Hoover, AL · Hartford, CT · Hillsboro, OR · Hollywood, FL · High Point, NC · Holland, MI · Huntington Park, CA · Homestead, FL · Hesperia, CA
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 Lakewood. 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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