Population 31,255 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Montecito Heights
Household size in Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.58 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.46 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.51 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.00 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.57 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Montecito Heights are large by national standards, averaging 3.00 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.58, 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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.4 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.3 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Montecito Heights are younger than 39.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.6, a much bigger shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.6% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Montecito Heights: 15.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 5.6 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 Montecito Heights
Renters in Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 69.2% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 68.0% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 66.2% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 66.7% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Montecito Heights: 66.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 50.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.6 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Montecito Heights: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Montecito Heights has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Los Angeles neighborhoods.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Montecito Heights is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1953, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Montecito Heights has older homes than the great majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $842 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,040 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,180 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,560 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$718 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Montecito Heights costs $1,560 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the wider Los Angeles area ($2,279). Rents are up $718 a month from 2006–10, an 85% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 36.6% of the typical renter's income, 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 Montecito Heights
Bachelor's degrees in Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Montecito Heights: 22.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.4% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 54.0% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 60.5% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 64.7% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over a third of adults in Montecito Heights never finished high school, well above the national share: only 64.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 12.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Montecito Heights has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
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 Montecito Heights
| Period | Montecito Heights | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Montecito Heights: 8.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.5 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Montecito Heights compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montecito Heights | 3.00 | 39.9 | 15.0% | 66.7% | 4.9% | 1953 | $1,560 | 22.5% | 64.7% | 8.5% |
| Lincoln Heights | 2.71 | 33.8 | 19.2% | 66.7% | 3.2% | 1966 | $1,877 | 35.7% | 66.8% | 7.8% |
| Mount Washington | 2.42 | 39.6 | 8.1% | 54.7% | 4.6% | 1951 | $2,158 | 41.0% | 74.8% | 14.6% |
| Cypress Park | 2.74 | 40.3 | 13.6% | 55.0% | 4.7% | 1948 | $1,889 | 34.5% | 74.4% | 8.3% |
| El Sereno | 3.03 | 38.5 | 15.7% | 48.0% | 5.5% | 1956 | $1,644 | 27.5% | 70.8% | 7.9% |
| Chinatown | 1.88 | 41.2 | 4.9% | 98.7% | 3.8% | 1992 | $2,048 | 18.6% | 63.7% | 8.3% |
| Echo Park | 2.30 | 38.1 | 7.7% | 73.5% | 5.8% | 1954 | $2,110 | 51.2% | 83.4% | 8.1% |
| Central City East | 2.52 | 34.9 | 14.4% | 89.1% | 9.3% | 1985 | $1,687 | 29.4% | 69.9% | 9.5% |
| Civic Center Little Tokyo | 1.88 | 37.8 | 7.3% | 91.8% | 10.6% | 2001 | $2,551 | 53.5% | 87.3% | 5.9% |
| Highland Park | 2.64 | 37.4 | 9.0% | 67.0% | 5.1% | 1957 | $2,006 | 38.3% | 80.1% | 9.4% |
| Boyle Heights | 3.55 | 34.6 | 22.8% | 75.1% | 6.2% | 1949 | $1,514 | 13.1% | 54.3% | 8.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Bayview, San Francisco, CA · South Gate, Glen Burnie, MD · Serra Mesa, San Diego, CA · Rosedale, Queens, NY · Riverdale, Bronx, NY · Nevada-Lidgerwood, Spokane, WA · Near West Side, Chicago, IL · Murray Hill, Manhattan, NY · Montebello, Denver, CO · Millard, Omaha, NE
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 Montecito Heights. 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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